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Library materials draw contrasting public comments at OPS board meeting; callers urge removals and defenders press intellectual freedom
Summary
Multiple speakers urged Omaha Public Schools to remove books including 'Living Dead Girl' and 'This Book is Gay' from school libraries, reading graphic excerpts and citing research; another commenter defended intellectual freedom and librarians' role.
Several members of the public addressed the Omaha Public Schools Board on Nov. 17 about library materials, with critics urging removal of titles they described as obscene and a speaker defending access and intellectual freedom.
Michelle Rogers read passages she said were from the book Living Dead Girl and told the board the content was graphic and potentially triggering for students. "This content is in your libraries," she said, and urged the board to review holdings.
Mikaela Kaesor (transcript spelling) read explicit passages she identified as from This Book is Gay and urged the board to remove copies districtwide, calling the material "not education" and citing several studies she said linked explicit sexual material to harm. "Board, I urge you to vote tonight and pull every copy of this book out of your district," Kaesor said.
Other speakers offered a different perspective. Mary Lincoln urged the board to preserve intellectual freedom and highlighted the value of books for family conversations about complex themes. "Books offer a unique opportunity for students and parents to engage in meaningful and thoughtful conversations," Lincoln said, and she praised district librarians for curating diverse materials.
The board heard these public comments during the public-comment portion of the meeting; no board action to remove or ban specific titles was recorded in the meeting minutes. The transcript includes graphic passages read aloud by commenters; the board did not discuss policy changes to library curatorial practices during the session reported here.
The board may consider formal procedures for reviewing challenged materials at a later date if complaints are submitted under district policy.
