Amarillo council declines immediate removal of three challenged books, asks staff to tighten library policy

The Amarillo City Council on the evening of its May meeting declined to remove or relocate three contested titles from public shelves, instead directing library staff and the library advisory board to develop clearer content and parental‑consent policies.

The council heard more than 60 speakers during a prolonged public‑comment period that focused on an appeal of the Amarillo Public Library board’s decision to retain or reclassify books including The Bluest Eye, Gender Queer and Everybody. Amanda Barrera, the library director, explained the library’s reconsideration process: staff review, director decision, and a board appeal. Barrera said moving material to a segregated 18+ room would be a capital project likely costing “hundreds of thousands of dollars” and was beyond staff authority.

Supporters of the library board and professional review emphasized the value of the works and warned that restricting access silences marginalized readers. “These books aren’t about making people uncomfortable — they help young people find language and safety,” said Harper Metaf of the Amarillo Reproductive Freedom Alliance. Multiple speakers, including survivors and health professionals, said accurate anatomy and stories can be life‑saving.

Opponents asked for stronger age controls rather than outright banning. Misty Collier, who filed the appeal, said the contested image in Gender Queer (identified by Collier in testimony as page 167) was sexual and should be restricted from children. “What I asked for was a nonpartisan issue: remove these books from the children’s section and put them in a room marked 18 and above,” Collier told the council.

Mayor and councilmembers pressed for more explicit, enforceable policies to reduce subjectivity in staff and board decisions. Council members discussed options including a parental‑consent or authorization form, age‑based checkout flags in library records, tighter definitions tied to Texas obscenity statutes, and expanding the library advisory board from five to seven members to improve deliberation.

Council leadership recommended taking no action on the appeal item (10B) at this meeting and instead directed staff and the library advisory board to return with proposed policy changes and operational measures. The mayor said the proposal would let the board and staff refine rules that protect minors while preserving library access. The library advisory board’s next scheduled meeting was set for June; staff said any revisions would be brought to the board for consideration and then returned to council as needed.

The council did not vote to remove or ban any title that night; instead it asked for a policy package addressing parental controls and clearer criteria for age appropriateness. The library director said staff would work with the board to draft policy, consider parental‑consent mechanisms and provide clearer public guidance.

What’s next: Council directed staff and the library advisory board to draft updated library content guidelines, parental‑consent mechanisms and, if necessary, an expanded advisory board; no formal ordinance or ban was enacted at the meeting.