Citrus County advisory board debates alleged "viewpoint discrimination" in library displays; moves policy review to county

Rys Campbell, a member of the Citrus County Special Library District Advisory Board, told colleagues that multiple residents had contacted him alleging library display tables favored certain political viewpoints and excluded conservative voices. "I think there is viewpoint discrimination within the library when it comes to some of these books," Campbell said, urging the advisory board to advise the Board of County Commissioners on policy if necessary.

Director Chang, the county library director, told the board he had taken Commissioner Kennard's suggested language, blended it with the library's existing policy and forwarded a draft for legal review. "I took what Commissioner Kennard had put together. I took our policy, and I tried to kind of blend them together," Chang said, adding that the draft must go through county legal processes before it returns to commissioners.

The discussion centered on whether the advisory board should make a formal motion or whether constituents should use the librarysystem's existing processes. Several board members said staff had already responded after the complaint: staff added titles to displays and clarified that exhibits are dynamic because books circulate. The board chair said the "system worked" in that staff updated displays after concerns were raised.

The board agreed to a procedural motion brought during the meeting to "move on from this discussion and continue with the business of the library," which the chair then opened for a limited public-input period. Speakers at the meeting were sharply divided: some urged a neutral, non-political approach to displays and to trust staff procedures; others said the public should be able to bring political displays or be heard at board level. After the public comment period, the chair put the motion to a vote and reported no opposed votes, declaring the motion carried.

Board members and staff encouraged constituents to use the librarysystem's formal feedback tools and noted that any formal change to display rules would need to travel through the countylegal review and the Board of County Commissioners before the advisory board could implement changes. Director Chang offered to seek clarification from his supervisors about whether the advisory board will receive the draft policy for "first eyes."