Arkansas Library Settlement Over Book-Ban Dispute

Saline County, Arkansas, agreed to pay $275,000 to resolve a lawsuit filed by former library director Patty Hector. The settlement provides $225,000 directly to Hector and allocates $50,000 for legal fees. The county chose settlement “rather than risk costlier litigation,” according to statements from county officials.

The Advocate

In 2023, Hector was terminated after publicly criticizing a county ordinance that required books containing “sexual content or imagery” to be moved out of the children’s section. She argued that the rule targeted works with LGBTQ+ themes and that such material is not illegal for children. County Judge Matt Brumley, who approved the ordinance, later expressed discomfort with Hector’s stance, questioning the appropriateness of her comments. The lawsuit was brought by the ACLU of Arkansas on Hector’s behalf, alleging retaliation for protected speech.

The Advocate

He added that the Quorum Court’s legislation was intended to give the county judge oversight of the library and protect taxpayer interests.

The Advocate

• “Saying that there’s nothing wrong with those books after being asked if you’ve read those books — it’s tough for me to put together, and I hope it wouldn’t be the message from this board,” — Matt Brumley, saline county judge — Matt Brumley, Saline County judge

The Advocate

Saline County is now proposing a $1.7 million reduction in the library’s budget. The ACLU of Arkansas warned that any librarian who faces retaliation for speaking out on the budget or related book-selection issues will receive legal defense. The county’s budget cut proposal and the settlement together highlight ongoing tensions between local officials and library professionals over content-access policies in Arkansas.

The Advocate