Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Library Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parents and librarians urge Columbia CUSD 4 board to restore ALA language, return in-person book fairs
Summary
Dozens of parents and local librarians told the Columbia CUSD 4 board that removing the American Library Association Bill of Rights from district policy and ending in‑person Scholastic book fairs harms student access, curtails professional collection practices and risks lost revenue; administrators said the change was procedural and pledged improved communication and staffing plans.
Dozens of parents and several local librarians pressed the Columbia CUSD 4 board on library policy and book fairs, urging the board to restore language referencing the American Library Association (ALA) Bill of Rights and to bring back in‑person Scholastic book fairs.
Betsy Mahoney, who identified herself as a neighboring librarian, told the board that “upholding the ALA Bill of Rights is one of the most important aspects of a well‑written collection development policy,” and warned that removing the language risks decisions based on “partisan or doctrinal disapproval.” She urged the board to rely on professional selection criteria — accuracy, interest and students’ developmental needs — rather than political pressure.
Several parents underscored the local financial and educational consequences of the policy change. Carrie Clayton said she found a survey question asking whether parents feel heard and answered that they do not unless they are part of the board’s immediate circles; she noted the district used to raise roughly $13,000 from in‑person book fairs and asked, “How does losing funding and revenue help anyone?”
Allison Wolf told the board that removing the ALA language could affect eligibility for state grant programs, citing Public Act 103‑0100, and asked the board to reinstate the ALA language while preserving reconsideration procedures for legitimately out‑of‑scope materials.
Parent Sarah Clark, after reviewing past minutes and recordings, urged more transparency about who advised the policy change and again asked the district to involve a certified librarian in collection decisions. Amanda Champion, speaking for her husband, said the move “isn't to benefit the children” and worried decisions may be driven by a small number of activists rather than broad community input.
Board members answered questions but did not reverse the policy during the meeting. Chair said the board amended the policy to remove the ALA language rather than ban specific books and emphasized a desire for local control: “I don't want politics in the school,” the Chair said, adding the board wants diverse input and more transparency on process. Administrators acknowledged the district currently lacks a certified school librarian and told the public that hiring a certified librarian is “in the works for next school year.”
The board also said no materials have been removed from shelves except for a book deemed age‑inappropriate that was shifted to another library; administrators said Scholastic book clubs will continue even if in‑person fairs are paused.
Next steps: community speakers asked the board to (1) clarify who served on the October committee that reviewed book‑fair choices, (2) provide a clearer reconsideration policy for challenged materials, and (3) return the ALA language or otherwise ensure professional collection standards. The board indicated it will review staffing and communications but did not set a timetable to change policy during the meeting.
