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Board directs parent survey after yearlong library review and book challenges
Summary
After months of public comment and a division review that flagged 16 challenged titles, the Franklin County School Board approved the library committee’s request to survey families before making further changes to library policy.
The Franklin County School Board voted to ask the Division Library Advisory Committee to survey families and report results before the board considers additional changes to library policies IIBD and KLB. The motion, made by a board member and seconded, passed by voice vote.
Division librarians presented data showing that during the 2023–24 school year 16 books were challenged (14 at Franklin County High School and 2 at Dudley Elementary). After review, five titles were removed from circulation (one for age appropriateness and four because they had not been checked out in years), two were moved to a restricted “You Plus” section requiring parental permission, and seven remained in general circulation. Ms. Weaver, the division’s library committee facilitator, told the board librarians use screening tools including Follett/TidalWave, Junior Library Guild and Common Sense Media and that school librarians read and review materials as part of selection practice.
The committee recommended a short parent satisfaction survey to be sent to all FCPS families and a timeline to collect and analyze responses before the board meets in November. The committee also asked that the district more clearly publicize existing processes — for example, that parents receive an electronic notice when their child checks out a library book unless they opt out, and that a formal review process exists for challenged materials.
Several public commenters urged more review and removal of materials they described as explicit; others defended librarians’ training and urged the board to trust professionals. During Q&A board members raised legal and procedural questions, including how the division’s internal review form aligns with Virginia statutory language about sexually explicit material and whether outside community members should be allowed to initiate formal challenges. Administration said librarians’ decisions to relocate or remove titles had been supported by school leadership and that the district would consider revisions to the review rubric and communications about parental options.
Board Chair (name not specified in the record) said the survey would give a broader base of parental input and the committee would continue concurrently to refine forms and procedures. The committee will send the survey, collect and analyze the results and present findings to the board at the November meeting.
