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Belton ISD board approves 700-title library purchase after School Library Advisory Council review
Summary
The Belton ISD Board of Trustees on Oct. 20 approved a recommendation from the district's newly formed School Library Advisory Council to add roughly 700 book titles to campus libraries, a move the advisory group said consolidates delayed purchases and aligns collections with new state review requirements under Senate Bill 13.
The Belton Independent School District Board of Trustees voted 6-2 to permit campus libraries to add a recommended list of about 700 book titles after a presentation from the district's School Library Advisory Council.
The recommendation comes after the district established a local School Library Advisory Council (referred to in the meeting as the SLAC) to review selection processes and to comply with Senate Bill 13 requirements. Gabby Nino, who presented the council's work to the board, said the large purchase reflects a consolidation of orders that previously would have been made across campuses throughout the year.
Nino told trustees the SLAC reviewed the district's selection standards and sources used by librarians, and walked the committee through the multi-step review process the district uses before adding titles. "Any new book with a new ISBN number must go through the process," Nino said, noting that even reprints of existing titles can carry different ISBNs and therefore require review under the new rules. She said the SLAC unanimously recommended the list be forwarded to the board.
Trustees discussed timeline and safeguards. One trustee noted the district has protective processes that allow a parent or community member to place a book on hold districtwide if there is concern about content. Board members also praised the advisory committee for moving promptly so books could be available to students.
When board members called for a motion, the agenda item was moved and seconded as recorded in the meeting; the motion carried by a recorded tally of 6 yes, 2 no and 0 abstentions.
The district and SLAC emphasized that the presented book list includes some repeat ISBNs because this is the first consolidated request under the new review process, and that future purchases should not be this large. The board did not change the recommendation at the meeting and approved the campuses' ability to add the listed materials as presented.
The board's approval authorizes campus libraries to proceed with the purchases recommended by the School Library Advisory Council; administrative staff will continue to manage acquisition, and the SLAC and district librarians will continue to follow the review procedures described at the meeting.
