[Libs-Or] Grants Pass SD - call for support

[MAURER Jennifer * SLO]

Hi Folks,

Here's additional information about the meeting Emily O'Neal, IFC Chair, shared about earlier today. The Grants Pass School District board policy committee will have a workshop on Tuesday, July 23rd from noon to 5:00 pm. Note that the start time on the agenda<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kzXFjo3j5MtShHI3MgpoCHbttGuPh8EW/view> is currently listed as 5:00 pm, but that is not correct. It is not a board meeting<https://www.grantspass.k12.or.us/our-district/board-of-education/2024-agendas> in the traditional sense, and there will not be a board meeting that day. While the workshop is a public meeting, it's not likely that public comment will be accepted at the meeting.

The two school library policies that will be discussed are linked at the bottom of the agenda, and a Zoom link is at the top. The suggested new text for the Instructional and Library Media Resources and Materials policy IIA<https://drive.google.com/file/d/15VJKjPL8_c-3e4Ixm1izlcvpUfBvx5ni/view> starts on page 4 of the linked document. We have been told that the committee expects to discuss the library policies during the last 30 to 45 minutes; anyone who would like to watch the discussion via Zoom may want to log in by 4:00 pm. We were also told that this is the "conversation phase" and that any votes are likely a few months off.

Again, please contact the individuals listed below if you have concerns about the proposed IIA library policy.

Thanks,
Jen

IFC, ex officio State Library of Oregon representative

Jen Maurer, MLS (she/her)
School Library Consultant, State Library of Oregon
jennifer.maurer at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:jennifer.maurer at slo.oregon.gov> | 971-375-3540 | https://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries

[Logo with this text: State Library of Oregon, Library Support and Development Services]

From: Libs-Or <libs-or-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> On Behalf Of Intellectual Freedom Committee via Libs-Or
Sent: Friday, July 19, 2024 9:05 AM
To: libs-or at omls.oregon.gov
Subject: [Libs-Or] Grants Pass SD - call for support

Hi all,
As book challenges continue to rage through our communities, one tactic we (the IFC) have begun to see utilized repeatedly now, is the idea of trying to keep the situation quiet, to attempt to remove materials without it becoming a media frenzy, doing so often without the communities even aware that this is happening.

The IFC recognizes the need for transparency in these issues, knowing that if the communities WERE aware of these challenges, they would write letters to the Boards and administrators, advocating for the right to read freely.

With this, the IFC will begin (when appropriate) to share challenge situations more broadly, especially at times where we know a letter writing campaign to boards, administrators, and letters to the media would help support preserving the right to read.

In that, we are asking for support coming out of Grants Pass School District.  In short, Grants Pass had an informal complaint to four books:  All Boys Aren't Blue, Flamer, Beyond Magenta, and Night of the Living Queers .  As a result of the situation regarding these four titles, the Library Board is proposing a policy change.  They are recommending creating a new "library selection committee" that would approve every single book purchased for the coming year.

In the effort of saving you some time, here is the section of the new policy that is highly concerning:

Library books, media and Supplementary Materials Objectives
All selections will be consistent with the following principles which:
1. Provide materials that enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration the
varied interests, abilities and maturity levels of the students served;
2. Provide materials that stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary appreciation,
aesthetic values and ethical standards;
3. Provide a background information which will enable students to make intelligent
judgments in their daily lives;
4. Provide materials on opposing sides of controversial issues, so that young citizens may
develop, under guidance, the practice of analytical reading and critical thinking;
5. Provide materials representative of the many religious, ethnic and cultural groups,
showing their contributions to our heritage and that inform rather than indoctrinate;
6. Place evaluative criteria above personal opinion in the selection of materials of the
highest quality in order to assure a comprehensive collection appropriate for the users of the
library media center;
7. Maintain a current and usable collection; school personnel will provide continuing
renewal of the collection and resources, not only by addition of up-to-date materials, but by
the elimination of materials which no longer meet needs.
Selection Criteria
The Librarian Selection Committee shall consider the following criteria in evaluating materials:
1. Overall need and relation to approved curriculum;
2. Quality of writing, authenticity, and has literary merit;
3. Authors demonstrate subject matter authority;
4. Age appropriateness in theme and content;
5. Does not contain graphic violence, sexually explicit, lude, obscene, and erotic language,
or display pornographic material, or images, or encourage sexual behavior;
6. Does not contain repetitive vulgar language;
7. Contributes to viewpoint diversity and balance on political, cultural, and intellectual
topics.

We know they are going to turn to these points to no longer purchase library materials by or about LGBTQ folks.

At this point, we need to gather the masses and help let the Grants Pass School Board and administrators know that the library community (and Grants Pass community) do not stand for this policy and ask them to vote against its implementation.

If you have time and would be willing, we would love to encourage letters to the following:
Superintendent Tim Sweeney: tsweeney at grantspass.k12.or.us<mailto:tsweeney at grantspass.k12.or.us>
Grants Pass School Board:
 - Dustin Smith: dsmith at grantspass.k12.or.us<mailto:dsmith at grantspass.k12.or.us>
- Chad Dybdahl: cdybdahl at grantspass.k12.or.us<mailto:cdybdahl at grantspass.k12.or.us>
- Gary Richardson: glrichardson at grantspass.k12.or.us<mailto:glrichardson at grantspass.k12.or.us>
- Debbie Brownell: dbrownell at grantspass.k12.or.us<mailto:dbrownell at grantspass.k12.or.us>
- Cassie Wilkins: cwilkins at grantspass.k12.or.us<mailto:cwilkins at grantspass.k12.or.us>
- Nathan Seable: nseable at grantspass.k12.or.us<mailto:nseable at grantspass.k12.or.us>
- Joseph Schmidt: jschmidt at grantspass.k12.or.us<mailto:jschmidt at grantspass.k12.or.us>
Grants Pass Daily Courier - letters to the editor: newsdept at thedailycourier.com<mailto:newsdept at thedailycourier.com>

Thank you all for your advocacy - and know we will try and share these situations more transparently (where appropriate) in the future.

Emily and the IFC

--
Chair - ifc.chair at olaweb.org<mailto:ifc.chair at olaweb.org>
Intellectual Freedom Committee https://www.olaweb.org/if-home
Oregon Library Association https://www.olaweb.org/

Disclaimer: all information provided by the IFC is intended for informational purposes only.  This is not to be considered legal advice. Should you need legal advice, we recommend contacting a practicing attorney in your jurisdiction.
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