East DFW News

Amid the discovery of controversial books, Fort Worth ISD has taken the step of temporarily closing all school libraries for a comprehensive content review, following the removal of three contentious titles prior to the start of the school year. This move reflects the district's response to increased scrutiny and its commitment to refining book selection processes, including the consideration of adopting book ratings similar to movie ratings for enhanced vetting.

"Every campus library will be closed through Aug. 25 so catalogs can be inventoried," Fort Worth ISD said in a statement, according to Fox 4 News.

According to the Fort Worth Star Telegram, the Fort Worth Independent ISD has temporarily closed its school libraries to students for the initial two weeks of the academic year, marking a proactive response to a new state law. The district-wide move aims to review book titles for any sexually explicit or violent content, a decision that has led to the removal of more than 100 titles from library shelves.

Over the summer break, the Fort Worth ISD removed three books from elementary and middle school libraries—“Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe, “Flamer” by Mike Curato, and “Wait What? A Comic Book Guide to Relationships, Bodies, and Growing Up” by Heather Corinna—due to perceived inappropriate content, Fort Worth Star Telegram reported. The move comes ahead of a new Texas state law mandating book vendors to assign ratings based on sexual content, which takes effect on September 1. However, the absence of specific state criteria for these ratings until possibly April has left the timeline uncertain for determining which books will ultimately remain off the shelves following the ongoing review.

Fox 4 News reports that concerns have been raised over the explicit nature of certain books within the Fort Worth ISD libraries, with some parents asserting that these graphic contents warrant restricting their children's access. In response to the controversy surrounding the presence of contentious LGBTQ-themed books, like "Gender Queer," in elementary and middle school libraries, changes are underway at the district. Mary Jane Bowman, the executive director of humanities and student academic support initiatives for Fort Worth ISD, acknowledged a lack of consistent review processes and questioned whether the director of library media services was adequately involved in evaluating incoming books.

Following the removal of three books in the past month, the district's scrutiny has expanded, with an ongoing review of over 100 titles, predominantly focusing on explicit sexual content, while others contain themes of violence, according to Fox 4 News.