Commission to consider new book display policy amid Charlie Kirk controversy

By John Labriola - Citrus County commissioners will be discussing new guidelines for library book displays at their upcoming meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 9. The meeting will begin at 1 p.m. and will be held at the Citrus County Courthouse, 110 N. Apopka Ave., Inverness, FL 34450.

The draft library display policy comes after weeks of controversy over a proposed display of books written or recommended by Charlie Kirk, which was rejected by the Library Advisory Board (LAB) by a 5-2 vote on Oct. 28 after a mob of angry leftists slandered Kirk and intimidated the LAB by shouting obscenities. 

The LAB's decision was panned at a county commission meeting a week later by Commissioner Diana Finegan and members of the public, some of whom attributed the vote to cowardice. They said Kirk, who was assassinated at a Utah university campus on Sept. 10 by an angry leftist, deserves a display. 

Commissioner Jeff Kinnard, who is proposing the new display policy, believes the LAB needs specific guidelines so they can better decide what displays to approve. 

"I suggested that as a policy board, we should set a policy and stay out of it," Kinnard said. "I have put in a lot of work putting together a library policy. I think it touches on all the salient points that need to be touched on in a library display policy and can get this board nose up and focusing on the greater things of the community that this board should be focused on policywise."

The commission will discuss Kinnard's proposal on Tuesday and take a final vote at their following meeting in January.

His draft policy states that displays "must be nonpartisan, non-sectarian, and educational in nature," with a duration of no more than 60 days, and must align with the library's mission of "promoting literacy, lifelong learning and cultural enrichment." Displays could not contain "political party logos, campaign materials, or endorsements," "religious worship materials or proselytizing" or "sexual or sexuality related material." The LAB's decision on whether to approve displays would be final and could not be appealed to the county commission. Outside groups would also be able to submit proposals for displays as long as they meet the criteria.

Last week, the LAB met for the first time since rejecting LAB member Rhys Campbell's motion to create a Charlie Kirk book display. The LAB explained its vote at the time by saying Kirk was "political," although the libraries display many books by or about political figures during Black History Month in February and Women's History Month in March. 

Several members of the public urged the LAB to reverse its vote, but it declined, citing the commission's upcoming discussion of a new display policy.

LAB Chairman Justin Strickland, who had recused himself from the vote after telling the board to reject the Charlie Kirk display, was singled out for criticism.

"Why was it that you were not able to take a stand? Your decisions are lukewarm. You need to be either hot or cold, and I think you know what I'm talking about," Trina Romeo of Inverness told him. "We are supposed to be putting our trust in what your decisions are, and quite frankly, I don't feel very trusting in what this last decision has been."

Strickland, who is a pastor at Crystal River Church of God, said he didn't regret recusing himself but didn't give a reason. He added his vote wouldn't have made a difference because it was "pretty clear which way the board was going to go," ignoring the fact that he actually told the board to vote no.

Ray Brown of Homosassa said he's been trying to check out books by Charlie Kirk, but there are five to seven people ahead of him on waiting lists.

"We shouldn't have to wait eight weeks, 10 weeks to be able to get a book," Brown said. "Our tax [dollars] go to buying books. We deserve it. We pay taxes. That's our money."

Library Director Adam Chang said the library system will buy more Charlie Kirk books if the demand exists and people keep requesting them.

Also last Tuesday, it was announced that LAB members Mari-Elain Ebitz and Burke Reagan will not seek reappointment to the LAB. Ebitz said she was stepping down because "the meetings now have become focal points for grievances, politics and uncivil behavior," necessitating the presence of a sheriff's deputy. "When there has to be a deputy attending library board meetings, it has gone too far," she said.