Books to Stay on Wichita Falls
Children's Shelves . . . For Now
While he is deciding on a lawsuit filed by the Texas chapter of the ACLU that challenges a Wichita Falls, Texas, ordinance, U.S. District Judge Jerry Buchmeyer ordered August 18 that Daddy's Roommate and Heather Has Two Mommies will remain in the juvenile, nonfiction section of the public library.
The ordinance, which was passed February 16, requires the library to restrict access to any title that at least 300 people petition against. Library Administrator Linda Hughes removed the books from the children’s area after she received a petition on July 14 with 570 signatures.
On July 20 Buchmeyer placed a temporary restraining order on the enactment of the ordinance. After hearing arguments on August 17 and 18, he ruled that the temporary restraining order was to stay in place while attorneys prepared written arguments.
Hughes said it may take several months before the judge makes a final decision.
Posted August 23, 1999.
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