SERVING ALL HANOVER COUNTY COMMUNITIES Volume 39, No. 30
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Richmond Suburban News
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Sheriff’s office holds awards ceremony PAGE 12
Second inning scoring barrage carries Hawks in Commonwealth Classic PAGE 16
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Library board votes not to label books ROSLYN RYAN
Richmond Suburban News
PHOTO COURTESY OF HANOVER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Chris Martinez, the principal at Patrick Henry High School, has won the 2022-23 R.E.B. Award for Distinguished Educational Leadership.
Principal earns leadership award CONTRIBUTED REPORT
ASHLAND – Chris Martinez, the principal at Patrick Henry High School (PHHS), is the Hanover County Public Schools
winner of the 2022-23 R.E.B. $30,000 grant – a $10,000 unreAward for Distinguished Educa- stricted cash grant and $20,000 tional Leadership by The Com- to be used for expanding a peer munity Foundation. As a recipient, Martinez will receive a Please see AWARD, Page 5
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When it comes to the type of reading material available at her local library, King William resident Sharon Landrum wants to make one thing clear: she doesn’t support banning or removing books from the shelves. Instead, said Landrum, she would like to see a better system for helping parents know what books contain adult themes or material that might otherwise be considered inappropriate for young readers. “I’m simply talking about labeling and placement restrictions,” said Landrum, choosing her words carefully so as not to be grouped with those who in recent months have begun pushing libraries across the country to pull books featuring LGBTQ themes, sex-related content or challenging language permanently from library shelves. For the past several months, a movement has been underway to get the Pamunkey Regional Library system—which serves
Hanover, King William, Goochland and King and Queen counties—to find a way to ensure that children are not able to access books featuring adult content or themes that might otherwise be considered inappropriate. Landrum said she first began attending meetings several months ago, after finding books in her library featuring content that she found “appalling.” On March 22, after hearing from at least six area residents who spoke in favor of labeling explicit material, the Pamunkey Reginal Library Board of Trustees voted 8-2 in favor of a Collection Development Policy that does not include labeling. According to the new policy, which was not supported by Goochland board member Barb Young or Hanover member Ryan Martin, “Selection for the collection is not restricted by the possibility that children or adolescents may obtain or see materials their parents or guardians Please see LABELS, Page 2
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