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Citrus County board appoints four to library advisory panel after heated public debate over children’s materials
Summary
The Citrus County governing body reappointed three members and filled one vacancy on the Library Advisory Board after public comment focused on book selections and protections for minors; staff described changes to how materials are categorized and checked out.
The Special Library District governing body for Citrus County voted to appoint Lorraine Benefield, Justin Strickland, Rhys (Rees) Campbell and Katie Myers to the Library Advisory Board during its February 2025 meeting, approving the motion by voice vote after public comment and board discussion.
The nominations followed a lengthy public comment period in which dozens of residents urged the board to prioritize protecting children from sexually explicit or age-inappropriate library materials and to preserve what speakers described as community values. Chair Rebecca Beatty noted the wide range of opinions in the room and urged board members to listen respectfully as they considered nominations.
Library Services Director Adam Chang described…
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