saline county
Saline County officials move to tighten their authority over library hiring and budget
Library Director Patty Hector‘s name was mud at the Saline County Courthouse Monday night, as the county judge, Quorum Court members and a roster of riled Republicans condemned her ongoing refusal to remove books from the young people’s section. Justice of the Peace Josh Curtis introduced an ordinance to give the county judge power to […]
Crawford County parents sue library system over relocation of LGBTQ+ children’s books
Three Crawford County parents have sued the county judge, quorum court, library board and interim library director, alleging “unlawful censorship of materials,” specifically children’s books with LGBTQ+ topics, in the county’s five library branches. Rebecka Virden, Nina Prater, Samantha Rowlett and their minor children are all Crawford County residents and library patrons, according to the […]
17 plaintiffs plan to challenge Arkansas’ library obscenity law
The Central Arkansas Library System and 16 other plaintiffs plan to sue the state of Arkansas over two sections of a new law that changes how libraries handle material that some consider “obscene.” The CALS board of directors voted Thursday to file a federal lawsuit challenging the portions of Act 372 of 2023 that alter […]
Saline County judge: Library director’s statements cause “high degree of concern”
BENTON — The Saline County Library Board on Monday delayed a vote on a resolution that would give the county judge power to relocate or remove controversial books from youth sections in the county’s two libraries. The meeting became heated at times, with members of the public and County Judge Matt Brumley weighing in on […]
Yanking books off library shelves doesn’t really ‘protect children’
The puritanical extremists who’ve taken over the Saline County Republican Party aren’t satisfied with getting the county governing body to terrorize their local library. They’ve now launched an offensive public offensive to “Stop X-Rated books at the Saline County Library” via a billboard next to the Walmart in Benton. The billboard directs readers to a […]
A billboard battle is brewing in Saline County between library supporters, opponents
A group led by Saline County residents who oppose the relocation or removal of certain books from local libraries plans to rent a billboard in Benton to counter a new sign connected to Saline County Republicans that decries “X-rated library books.” Scott Gray of the Saline County Republican Committee posted photos of the billboard, located […]
Arkansas librarians brace for impact of law making them liable for “obscene” content
Libraries across Arkansas are preparing for a potential wave of challenges when a new state law takes effect later this year, changing how libraries handle controversial material. But some public libraries have already seen an outpouring of public opposition to content that some consider harmful to children. Those librarians’ experiences offer a preview of what […]
UPDATED: Saline County officials express support for library obscenity law after much public input
This story was updated at 7:15 p.m. April 18, 2023 BENTON — The Saline County Quorum Court on Monday recommended that the county’s libraries “relocate materials that are not subject matter or age appropriate for children, due to their sexual content or imagery, to an area that is not accessible to children.” A state law […]