Law enforcement in Granbury, Texas, launched a detailed investigation targeting three school librarians. The charge?
Allowing students to access books like “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison, deemed obscene by Chief Deputy Constable Scott London.
He spent months gathering evidence, including body cam footage, interviews, and thousands of pages of documents, all focused on the alleged crime of distributing harmful material to minors.
For two years, London sought felony charges against these librarians. However, the Hood County District Attorney, Ryan Sinclair, declined to pursue the case due to insufficient evidence.
Despite subpoenas and public records requests, the investigation ended without charges being filed.
According to the source article, the librarians involved have not been named, as they were never formally accused of any crime.
Granbury Superintendent Jeremy Glenn expressed relief at the investigation’s conclusion, stating that the district believes the case was without merit.
The case has sparked significant concern among free speech advocates and librarians, highlighting the potential chilling effect on the profession.
The investigation, which included over 120 photos of book passages, underscored a broader national trend of scrutinizing literature in schools, particularly books dealing with racism, gender, and sexuality.
During the probe, London documented his findings meticulously, even recording videos of himself searching through library shelves.
He questioned librarians under the Fifth Amendment, with many choosing not to answer his queries.
This rigorous approach was part of a larger effort that saw at least 18 states consider similar legislation to prosecute librarians for distributing controversial books.
In May 2022, a pivotal moment in the investigation occurred when conservative parents Monica Brown and Karen Lowery filed a complaint naming 11 books they considered obscene.
London’s subsequent actions, including drafting criminal complaints and reviewing detailed records, marked a significant moment in the ongoing debate over book censorship.
The incident reflects a growing movement to limit access to certain types of literature, with three states—Missouri, Indiana, and Arkansas—passing laws to this effect.
However, free speech organizations, such as PEN America, warn against treating books as contraband, stressing the importance of intellectual freedom.
London’s investigation culminated in a failed bid to charge the librarians with distributing harmful material, with the District Attorney citing a lack of evidence and expired statutes of limitations for lesser charges.
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This case has raised concerns about the implications for librarians, who already face significant challenges in their profession.
In the end, the investigation highlighted the tension between community standards and intellectual freedom, with many fearing that such legal actions could discourage individuals from pursuing careers in librarianship.
The outcome of the Granbury case serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting the rights to free speech and access to diverse viewpoints in educational settings.