On January 29, Montgomery County ended the employment of Rhea Young, executive director of the county’s library system who was hired in 2022. Over the past several months, many citizens attended Commissioners Court meetings to object to the placement of certain sexually explicit, pro-transgender books in the library system. Young’s supporters also attended those meetings and claimed conservatives were really trying to “ban” books, rather than move them out of sections for young children.

 

Judge Keough said, “On January 28, 2025 the Commissioners Court appointed me to oversee the Memorial Library system.  I met with the Library Director and made the decision to end her employment with Montgomery County.  The future of the Library system is vital to me and I will immediately begin a nationwide search for a new Library Director that shares the values of the community and respects the direction of the Commissioners Court who represents the people of this county.” Keough said Young did not have a contract with the county.

 

Local activist and mom Michele Nuckolls began writing a series of blogs in early 2023 documenting her concerns with library policy. In response to the news of Young’s departure, Nuckolls said, “The library should be neutral, not political. Unfortunately, under Rhea Young’s leadership, conservative authors were virtually absent, and age-appropriate shelving concerns were ignored. A truly neutral library would provide a balance of viewpoints and protect children from inappropriate content.” Her blog can be found at: twomomsandsomebooks.substack.com