All six members of the Arkansas State Library Board have been replaced, with a more conservative bench.
This comes after a law to replace the board was passed in the legislature and signed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders earlier this year. The replacements, all appointed by Sanders, are a part of a statewide push to regulate the content of books in public libraries.
Former board members refused to pass a resolution withholding funding from libraries, or requiring libraries to relocate certain books to a restricted section. Lawmakers decided to replace them at the last legislative session.
Years-long fight
Across Arkansas, groups have been organizing to move or remove books they see as too graphic. Generally, the books are about sex education or LGBTQ+ themes and characters. Though most libraries have policies banning children from unsupervised access, detractors worry a child could stumble upon these books by mistake.
In December 2023, Sanders added former Republican state Sen. Jason Rapert, an outspoken supporter of book relocations, to the library board. At every meeting since his appointment, Rapert tried to pass resolutions to withhold funds. The resolutions would require libraries to relocate books he found offensive, including the graphic novel "Gender Queer: A Memoir" which he described as “pornography.” Each resolution failed, some not even receiving a second.
As more appointments became available to Sanders, she added more conservative members. Shari Bales and Sydney McKenzie voted to support Rapert's resolutions, but still made up a minority on the board.
Earlier this year, Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, took matters into his own hands. He passed a law to disband the library board, allowing the governor to hand-pick the replacements. The board was disbanded on August 3. Per the law, Sanders had 30 days to reappoint members.
The Replacements
Rapert told Little Rock Public Radio he had no plans to serve on the board again.
“I was asked to serve by Gov. Sanders and agreed to do so,” he said in an email. “My mission is fulfilled.”
Bales confirmed she did reapply, though she is not on the list of new appointees.
Sydney McKenzie, from Rogers, will retain her position on the board. She is the wife of Republican state Rep. Brit McKenzie. Emmaline Pilkington from Knoxville is also a spouse of a lawmaker; she's married to Republican Rep. Aaron Pilkington.
Sanders also appointed Jack Fortner, a former Republican lawmaker, to the board. Annette Bailey is the spouse of a preacher in Mountain Home. Another new appointee, Lynlee McMillan, works as the governor's Director of Constituent Services.
Clay Goff is already the chair of the White County Library Board. The library catalog doesn't carry most of the books Rapert objected to, like "Gender Queer" or "All Boys aren't Blue." He is also president of the Beebe School Board. At one meeting, he said an LGBTQ+ club proposed at the high school did not represent his beliefs.
The board allocates state funds for libraries. They meet quarterly, with two more meetings scheduled for later this year.
