City officials in Corpus Christi aim to reach a final decision on Tuesday regarding the Public Library collection development policy updates. Specifically, the proposed changes modify how the system handles potentially explicit material while enhancing parental control options for library cards. This decision comes after more than a year of heated discussions, highlighting the complexity and sensitivity of the issue.
A Year of Controversy and Debate
Discussions over the presence of potentially inappropriate material in the young adult section have been ongoing since late 2024, following the appointment of a new Library Board majority. The nine-member board has remained consistently divided on the issue, with a five-member majority advocating for stricter policies and a four-member minority supporting librarians’ professional discretion.
The central debate revolves around what constitutes “sexually explicit” content and whether such books should be moved to the adult section. Supporters of policy changes argue that relocating these materials ensures age-appropriate content access for minors. Opponents, however, believe restricting book placement could lead to censorship and that parental supervision should determine what minors read.
Proposed Changes to Library Card Options
A key point in the upcoming policy discussion is the introduction of new library card options for youth borrowers. Currently, parents can either allow their children unrestricted access to library materials or check out books on their behalf. The new proposal offers additional options:
- Restricted Juvenile Access – Limits checkouts to books in the juvenile section (ages 12 and under).
- Restricted Teen Access – Allows checkouts only from the juvenile and teen sections (ages 13-17).
Implementing these restrictions requires a custom software system, estimated to cost between $15,000 and $25,000. City officials have assured that this cost can be covered by the existing library budget, with implementation expected by late summer or early fall.
The Creation of a Separate Teen Section
Library staff began separating the teen section from the broader young adult section in December to address concerns about content appropriateness. The young adult section is now designated for readers aged 18-25, while the teen section is curated for ages 13-17.
As of late January, staff had reviewed approximately 1,000 books to determine appropriate placement and continued evaluating around 5,500 more. The review process involves professional literature reviews, age-level recommendations, and direct staff assessments.
Refining the Collection Development Policy
Over the past year, officials have proposed numerous revisions to the Public Library collection development policy, ranging from minor edits to major overhauls. The latest draft directs juvenile and teen sections to exclude materials containing “explicit and detailed verbal descriptions or narrative accounts of sexual excitement, sexual conduct, or sado-masochistic abuse,” which the policy’s new language classifies as harmful to minors.
However, the policy does not require library staff to monitor minors’ book selections actively, nor does it remove any books from circulation. Instead, the emphasis is on providing parents with tools to make informed decisions about their children’s reading materials.
Officials Hope for Resolution
City officials believe the upcoming board meeting could finally resolve the long-standing debate. City Manager Peter Zanoni states that library staff and board members have collaborated on compromises that balance community concerns with library standards.
“We will be glad to move beyond this policy review and focus on other initiatives like literacy rates and library utilization,” Zanoni stated.
Library Board member Jennifer Anderson, part of the four-member minority, expressed cautious optimism. She noted that as long as the proposed library card restrictions remain optional rather than mandatory, they could be a helpful tool for concerned parents.
Looking Ahead
The outcome of Tuesday’s meeting will determine the future of Corpus Christi’s Public Library policies. Whether the board reaches a consensus or remains divided, the discussion has underscored the importance of balancing parental rights, literary access, and age-appropriate content.