Sanders’ Appointees Clash on Library Funding
Former Republican state senator Jason Rapert, appointed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders to the Arkansas State Library Board, has found himself at odds with other board members over withholding state funding assistance from certain libraries. Rapert has been pushing for the board to cut funds to libraries that are suing the state over restrictions on materials and to those that allow unrestricted access to books or materials considered sexually explicit, obscene, or pornographic to minors.
Rapert first proposed suspending funding for libraries engaged in litigation at the February board meeting. This motion failed due to a lack of a second. Undeterred, he reintroduced the proposal at the May meeting, where it was voted down again. The board rejected the motion 6-1, with Rapert as the sole supporter. Rapert argued that tax dollars should not fund lawsuits against the state, but his fellow board members saw the move as an attempt to exert control over libraries and undermine their autonomy.
- Opponents argued that such a move could be coercive and might even be seen as infringing upon the board’s mandate to provide funding for public libraries.
- They also expressed concerns about the difficulty in identifying which libraries might be knowingly providing access to inappropriate materials, especially given the diverse range of materials and the absence of a clear mechanism to determine whether a library is actually engaging in such practice.
- Additionally, the board members opposed to Rapert’s proposal felt that this could set a dangerous precedent and potentially stifle intellectual freedom in public libraries.
In his disagreement with the board, Rapert did not shy away from confrontation. He raised his voice, calling out what he saw as an unwillingness to address the issue directly, stating that some libraries were “teaching kids how to give oral sex to each other.” This heated rhetoric further highlighted the ideological divisions within the board.
The broader context of Rapert’s appointment and his subsequent proposals underscores the ongoing tensions within Arkansas over issues such as censorship and the appropriate limits on materials available to minors in libraries. As the board continues to navigate these contentious issues, it remains to be seen whether Rapert’s actions will lead to lasting changes in the way libraries are funded and regulated in the state.
