Montgomery County Memorial Library System Executive Director Fired

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX -- Just a day after being appointed to oversee the Montgomery County Memorial Library system on January 28th by the Commissioners Court following their executive session, County Judge Mark Keough has terminated library director Rhea Young, from her position. Young had replaced the previous director Jerrilyn Williams following her retirement in 2022. At the time, Young had the confidence of the Commissioners, and was later mandated by the court to evaluate and categorize books deemed unsuitable for children, those involving topics on LGBTQ issues, gender affirming care and ideology.

The issue stems from Young’s refusal to follow-through with the summer 2023 mandate of the commissioners to remove any children’s books including the topics to an appropriate adult section. This is not the first case in Texas, one such episode happened in Llano County, located in the Texas Hill Country, where a terminated librarian filed a lawsuit, because the commissioners court never voted to have the books removed. Although the county library director ordered dozens of books containing nudity and gender affirming care removed, the head librarian at a county branch refused and was then terminated.

Montgomery County Commissioners again revisited the issue last fall when the county streamlined the guidelines to judge the suitability of books offered to children. The change to the policy included accepting disputes only from county residents with library cards, and the appointment of a committee of five members to superintend the review process.

“She is trying to do a job for all of us in the county,” said Lisa Matthews, speaking in support of Young, during the Citizen Comments portion of the January 28th Commissioners Court regular session.

Several Montgomery County citizens spoke on agenda item, 16. B., ‘Consider, discuss, and deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of Library Director. (Section 551.074).’

“I’m concerned about Ms. Young’s leadership,” said Michelle Knuckles to the commissioners. “Librarians have reported that requests for books popular with homeschoolers are being dismissed.”

Ms. Knuckles and her family are frequent visitors to the county's libraries, and is deeply concerned that more children’s books targeting radical gender ideology are being included in the library’s children section. Since the commissioners court mandate removing mature themed books from the children’s section, no action has been taken to the satisfaction of the court. One library employee disclosed to Knuckles that the purchasing manager refused to buy books free from the gender topic.

“Ms. Young showed no interest in addressing the lack of accountability,” said Knuckles. “None of the lost or damaged popular books to more conservative families have been replaced despite fees collected for this purpose and their popularity."

One book in question that was not being replaced was Kirk Cameron’s book ‘As You Grow,’ which is supposed to have seven books on the shelves, but only four remain. Books noting ‘bottom surgery,’ or sex reassignment surgery, an irreversible procedure that forever changes a child’s body in states that allow the surgery, are not being properly thought out. In adulthood, patients who have undergone the surgery are unable to achieve sexual gratification, much less be the natural parent of a child.

One anonymous librarian confided, “If things continue as they are, there won’t be any conservative librarians left,” and those library staff that have raised concerns to Young have been written up.

County Judge Mark Keough’s office confirmed via a press release that library Executive Director Rhea Young was terminated from her position as of January 29th. Noting that a search will begin to find a library director that will not defy the requests of the commissioners courts.

“I met with the library director and decided to terminate her employment with Montgomery County,” said Keough. “And it is vital to me that we find a library director who shares the values of the people of this county.”

MCMLS Public Relations Officer Anne Neidinger, said her office has no comment at this time.

Despite the Executive Director issue, the Montgomery County Memorial Library System has made great strides in the past year, seeing the growth that the county’s growing population has had on the library system, and the library is responding to the challenge. The library welcomed over 25,000 new users to the system, which has increased demand for resources and programs offered at the county’s eight locations. Library staff responded by adding over 80,000 items to their circulation last year, increasing their already extensive collection. The digital portion of the library has seen an increasing electronic download of books, audiobooks, streaming videos, and digital downloads of popular magazines, and newspapers. Approximately digital 32,000 items were downloaded last year, with increasing numbers expected in 2025.