By Shayan Abbasi
In a move that has ignited a passionate debate about the role of oversight and potential censorship in public libraries, the Huntington Beach City Council voted 4-3 on Oct. 17 to establish a parent advisory board responsible for approving children’s books to be placed on the shelves of the local public library.
The resolution, labeled No. 2023-41, was introduced by Mayor Pro Tem Gracey Van Der Mark, who has been a vocal proponent of increased scrutiny over children’s literature in the community. The conservative majority on the council, composed of Mayor Tony Strickland and Councilmen Casey McKeon and Pat Burns, supported the resolution, while Councilman Dan Kalmick and Councilwomen Natalie Moser and Rhonda Bolton opposed it.
The contentious city council meeting, lasting well into the night, saw a remarkable turnout with 128 individuals signing up for public comments. Additionally, over 550 people emailed the city council expressing their concerns about the proposal, with more than 90% voicing disapproval of the council-appointed board’s role in screening children’s books for perceived sexual content.
The parent advisory board, which has the potential to consist of up to 21 members who will be selected by a committee, will now hold the final say on the selection of new children’s books and review existing titles within the library to determine whether they should be relocated from the children’s section.
This decision comes on the heels of Van Der Mark’s successful challenge in 2020, where she advocated for moving the book “Gender Queer: A Memoir” from the young adult/teen section to the adult section of the Huntington Beach Central Library. Van Der Mark has been a longstanding advocate for increased oversight of children’s literature, a stance she held even before being elected to the City Council last fall.
“Children should not have access to these books,” said Van der Mark. “The government should not be deciding if this is appropriate for their children.”
Critics of the resolution argue that it amounts to a form of book banning and takes decision-making power away from trained and educated librarians. They express concerns about the potential for subjective interpretations and censorship based on community values. Many see this move as a departure from the traditional role of librarians as custodians of intellectual freedom.
“The relations commission reported that anti-LGBTQ hate crimes increased by 126% in the past year, and the county’s choice to sanction many of the public comments made today tonight by moving forward with this book band policy under this reasoning is contributing to that,” one public commenter said. “It’s important that we consider the many life experiences and perspectives of this community when we make these decisions.”
Supporters, however, believe that the establishment of the advisory board is a necessary step to ensure age-appropriate content for the community’s youth. They believe that the board will serve as a safeguard against the inclusion of materials deemed inappropriate or objectionable by the community.
Kevin Otis, a Huntington Beach resident maintained that the implementation of the book review board was a necessary step.
“This is not a book ban, this resolution is about properly protecting our underage children through appropriate boundaries,” Otis said.
One significant aspect of the resolution is the decision-making process of the advisory board. Votes will be determined by a simple majority, and there will be no appeals process for any board decision, according to council discussions.
As the controversy surrounding the decision continues to unfold, the Huntington Beach City Council’s move highlights an ongoing nationwide discussion about the role of public libraries, intellectual freedom and the delicate balance between community values and the preservation of diverse voices within literature. The resolution raises important questions about who gets to decide what children can read and the potential consequences of such decisions on the broader cultural landscape.
