Library’s Gay Pride display draws crowd | News | jonesborosun.com – Jonesboro Sun
JONESBORO — Residents representing opposing sides about whether Gay Pride displays in the children’s section of the Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library are appropriate showed up in force during Monday night’s quorum court meeting.
State Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, had addressed the issue on his Facebook page, stating, “The Craighead County Quorum Court has funding authority over the county library. The quorum court meets tonight in the bottom of the Craighead County Courthouse. 5:30. See you there.”
County Judge Marvin Day waived usual policy and allowed for public comment at the beginning of the meeting.
What started as one parent’s concern over two books, “GayBC’s,” by M.L. Webb, and “It is People of Pride,” by RuPaul Charles, being on display at the library, has some community members questioning what is appropriate to display.
“I looked through the displays at the library. I don’t have a problem with the library having Gay Pride displays at the library,” Sullivan said. “Are they appropriate for children? I am interested in who makes those decisions.”
Day said the quorum court simply makes the decision on who serves on the library’s board.
“They have a stand-alone board,” Day said. “I will admit, in our case, the board is appointed by the city of Jonesboro and the county.”
Day went on to explain the quorum court also has no control over what the library administrators select to put in the library. The library is funded through a voter-approved property tax.
“The administration of the library makes those choices about selection …,” he said.
In an email sent to The Sun, library Executive Director Tonya Ryals provided the library’s Collection Development Policy.
“The ultimate responsibility for the selection of library materials rests with the library director who operates within the framework of the policies determined by the Board of Trustees. This responsibility may be shared with other members of the library staff; however because the director must be available to answer to the board and the general public for actual selections made, the director has the authority to reject or select any item contrary to the recommendations of the staff,” the policy states.
Justice of the Peace Darrel Cook said he agreed with Sullivan.
“Gentle minds must not be exposed to that,” he said of youngsters and the books in question.
“At what point does the library take over sex education?” Sullivan asked.
Emeritus A-State Professor of Economics Gary Latanich took his turn at the microphone.
Latanich asked a rhetorical question of the JPs: “Who is responsible for what the children read? Is it the government’s responsibility or is it ours as parents?”
Latanich gave an example. “I read Harry Potter to my 9-year-old. The first two books were fine; the third was too complicated. I wouldn’t let my 9-year-old daughter read ‘Fifty Shades of Gray,’ but I let my 39-year-old daughter read it.”
“Conservatives believe in limited government and personal responsibility,” Latanich said.
“We keep asking the question what is age-appropriate … if you don’t want your kids to read (a book), don’t let them read it,” he said.
Members of the LGBTQ community presented their side of the argument, including David McAvoy, a resident of Jonesboro.
“Some of ya’ll know me, and I have to say I feel a little bit like crying,” he said. “You see in my family, I have a niece, age 10, a nephew, age eight, and another nephew age 5. In our family, we have two gay uncles, of which I am one. My spouse and I, we pay our taxes, we vote in this community in every election, we participate in community events, and we picked Jonesboro to live. Some of those comments (on Facebook) are saying there is not a spot in this community for people like us.”
After several other community members presented their opinions to the JPs, the crowd dispersed into the hallway and JPs resumed normal business.
Items on the agenda approved, included:
An appropriations ordinance for Circuit Court to add technology to five courtrooms.
An ordinance to adopt Federal Award Administration Policy.
An ordinance to adopt salary policy and job evaluation and salary administration program (committee).
An ordinance to increase 2021 salaries to mid-point.
A resolution to accept the 2020 Craighead County audit.
And an ordinance to establish fund 1890, known as the Jacob Kade Holliday Restitution Fund.
Day said as far as the salary policy, those salaries were not guaranteed.
“It’s just an ordinance bringing people to (the) midpoint,” he said.