Although the Irving City Council won鈥檛 meet this week, they鈥檒l soon have something new on their plate: a new proposal to alter language in the city library system鈥檚 collection development policy.
The move comes after weeks of back-and-forth over how the current development policy should be changed, if at all.
At their April 6 meeting, the Irving Public Library Board discussed, modified and then submitted a slate of proposed changes to the framework guiding acquisition and maintenance of library materials. They were making changes to a set of potential revisions presented at their last meeting in March.
While the board went into the meeting with the policy鈥檚 original Diversity and Inclusion section struck through, their submitted proposal included a new version of the section, authored primarily by board member Christopher Wolfe.
四虎影院 has requested a copy of the proposal with this week鈥檚 changes.
The public comment period took place before the potential revisions were modified. More than 20 speakers voiced their opinions on the changes, with most opposed to altering the current policy.
Resident Kim Black said she was 鈥渘ot sure why we鈥檙e here tonight,鈥� as the library system has a current collection development policy in place.
鈥淭he library staff have instituted so many safeguards and changes recently to appease the Families For Irving PAC,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he newly worded book collection policy contains vague descriptions and relies heavily upon subjective content definitions.鈥�
Families For Irving is a political action committee with a significant presence in Irving municipal affairs. On the group鈥檚 website, the first point in its Principles section reads, 鈥淓nsure Irving鈥檚 cultural services 鈥� including its libraries and arts 鈥� reflect the traditional family values of our community.鈥�
Others endorsed the changes.
Resident Timothy Norman said the push for changes is 鈥渁bout protecting kids鈥� from materials some consider 鈥渟exually explicit.鈥�
Some board members objected to changing the policy at all. It was most recently updated in January, per the current document.
While discussing the changes, board member Gopinath Mavankal pointed to how recently the policy had been updated, and to the city's lack of a permanent library director.
鈥淭his has been approved very recently and what we are currently throwing out, or being considered here, is different from what the [Irving City Council] has already considered,鈥� Mavankal said.
Assistant City Manager Rachel Wood explained that the proposed revisions to the collection development policy will be reviewed by city staff for 鈥渙perational and legal concerns.鈥� She said city officials are looking at a potential May 7 work session discussion on the topic.
After staff weigh in, the Irving City Council will work with the proposed revisions.
The board also received an update from the city on the library鈥檚 ongoing search for a permanent director, following the resignation of its previous head, Lynette Roberson. An interim director, Randy Robertson, has been in the role since late March.
Wood confirmed the city is finalizing its job posting for the library director role. She said staff hope to have the posting go live by the end of this week.
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