Marlboro board faces parents’ push to make library collections visible before approval of policy 2535
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Summary
Parents and board members pressed for proactive, searchable access to library holdings and age-banding of materials during a long debate over policy 2535 (Library of Material); the board removed 2535 from tonight’s vote for further work.
Parents and several board members pressed the Marlboro Township Board of Education on Jan. 20 to add proactive safeguards and greater parental visibility to a proposed library-materials policy.
At public comment Val Mendez said she was unable to find several regulations the policy references and urged the district to publish the underlying regulations and provide parents tools to review holdings before children access them. "I didn't find regulation 91 30 out on the site," Mendez said, noting policy language that refers to a regulation not currently available online.
Board member Palomo told colleagues the proposed policy is too reactive and urged the policy committee and administration to add explicit age-band classifications, parental transparency measures (a searchable or printable catalog), and options to keep certain content in restricted sections for developmental appropriateness. "It's not about banning books," Palomo said. "It's about our responsibility as a Board of Education to ensure age-appropriate access to library material and respect parental rights."
Administration and policy-committee members consistently said the district already has library-catalog systems capable of parental access but that some of the regulation text still needs development. Board and administration representatives said items found in policy often sit alongside regulations that are developed later; several members asked that regulations be brought forward for awareness even when they are not legally required for a first reading.
The board did not approve policy 2535 at second reading. After extended discussion the board amended its package and voted to remove policy 2535 from tonight’s action so the policy committee can consider the suggested additions and whether certain implementation details belong in the policy or in regulations.
Why it matters: The debate hinges on how the district balances student access to library materials, parental oversight, and compliance with state standards. Parents asked for a practical way to preview library holdings (a searchable database or a PDF) and for clearer, proactive grade-band or restricted-section guidance to prevent early exposure to material some parents find inappropriate.
What happens next: The policy committee will review proposed edits and consider workable ways to display holdings to parents (short-term: a PDF or Genesis/portal listing; longer-term: a searchable, parent-facing interface). Policy 2535 will return only after committee review and any substantial changes are re-noticed for first reading.