NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas — The New Braunfels Independent School District has indefinitely restricted access to its secondary school libraries, including New Braunfels High School, citing a new law as the reason for the decision.
The law, which took effect in September, changes how public school libraries select and manage books, prohibiting materials deemed “harmful” or “indecent.” It shifts decision-making power from school librarians to local school boards, granting parents more influence in the process.
Last week, the district decided to temporarily close its libraries to middle and high school students, describing it as a “responsible step” to review all library books to comply with the new law. While supporters advocate for stricter scrutiny of library materials, critics argue the district’s decision is unusual.
Carolyn Foote, a former school librarian and member of the “Texas Freedom Fighters,” expressed her concerns, stating, “What New Braunfels is doing is definitely an outlier from what’s happening everywhere else in the state.” She added, “There’s a lot more that happens in the library than just students using the bookshelves, and so it’s restricting all of that from students, which is very concerning to me.”
New Braunfels ISD is the only major district in the area to close its libraries. Other districts, including Northside, North East, San Antonio, and Alamo Heights ISDs, confirmed they are complying with the new law but have not closed their libraries.
Supporters of the law argue it will increase transparency and parental oversight, while critics claim it disproportionately targets the LGBTQ community and may suggest their identities are inappropriate.
The district has not yet responded to questions about whether the library closures are in the best interest of students or if it could hinder access to valuable content. The school board is scheduled to meet tomorrow evening to discuss the restriction further, with more information expected by Friday.