Residents, educators press Seguin ISD to preserve library access amid state law changes

Dozens of residents and current and former Seguin Independent School District educators told the school board on Tuesday that libraries should offer diverse choices and that trained librarians are best placed to select age‑appropriate material.

"Each student's story is different and we should validate and value all of their stories," said Kim Saunders, a Seguin High School teacher, during the meeting's audience period. "Choice in reading material is vital to the kind of deep growth and preparation for life that we want our students to experience."

Saunders was the first of 22 speakers the board called during a public comment segment that the district capped at two minutes per person. The speakers included retired school librarians, parents, a pastor and survivors of sexual assault; many described the books on recently challenged lists as educational or as resources that help students develop empathy. "Publish it. Share with the library. Share with your friends," said Anne Craig, urging the board to make any challenged‑title…