HUNTINGTON BEACH Central Library (Flickr/cclark395).
The question of what sort of content should be in the city’s library system and who should have access to it will be back front and center at Tuesday’s meeting of the Huntington Beach City Council.
Councilmember Natalie Moser has requested detailed information about the process of cataloging books and other content in libraries as required by the conservative majority on the council. Moser is not a member of the majority.
The council majority’s concerns about content that might be “pornographic” or inappropriate for minors have been called censorship by critics.
She wants to “request city staff to prepare and present a comprehensive report on the various aspects related to the implementation of Resolution 2023-41. This includes criteria for material assessment and relocation; list of relocated materials; newly acquired materials; library access changes; community engagement and feedback process; digital assets; and clarification on youth re-carding process.”
Her request calls for the report to be presented at “the next available” city council meeting, which could be Tuesday, March 5.
The council meets at 2000 Main St. (at Yorktown Avenue) at 5 p.m.