Former librarian, patrons at Kingsland Branch Library in Llano County fight book ban

Iris Halpern, partner at Rathod Mohamedbhai LLC, right, looks through one of the books that was removed from the Kingsland Branch library in Llano county where her client Suzette Baker, left, was the head librarian before being terminated in 2022.

Suzette Baker, former head librarian at the Kingsland Branch Library in the Llano County Library System, holds some banned books at the Edwards Law office on Monday, Mar. 4, 2024 in Austin. Baker protested against the removal of books that were called “pornographic,” and was terminated on Mar. 9, 2022. “The Library is the only place in America where you can go and they’re not going to try and sell you something, they’re going to give you something,” Baker said. “It’s free. It’s this free knowledge thta makes us a free country.”

Suzette Baker, former head librarian at the Kingsland Branch Library in the Llano County Library System, talks about some books with Jeff Edwards, a partner at Edwards Law, at the Edwards Law office on Monday, Mar. 4, 2024 in Austin. Baker protested against the removal of books that were called “pornographic,” and was terminated on Mar. 9, 2022. “The Library is the only place in America where you can go and they’re not going to try and sell you something, they’re going to give you something,” Baker said. “It’s free. It’s this free knowledge thta makes us a free country.”

Suzette Baker, former head librarian at the Kingsland Branch Library in the Llano County Library System, holds some banned books at the Edwards Law office on Monday, Mar. 4, 2024 in Austin. Baker protested against the removal of books that were called “pornographic,” and was terminated on Mar. 9, 2022. “The Library is the only place in America where you can go and they’re not going to try and sell you something, they’re going to give you something,” Baker said. “It’s free. It’s this free knowledge thta makes us a free country.”

Suzette Baker, former head librarian at the Kingsland Branch Library in the Llano County Library System, talks about some books with Jeff Edwards, a partner at Edwards Law, at the Edwards Law office on Monday, Mar. 4, 2024 in Austin. Baker protested against the removal of books that were called “pornographic,” and was terminated on Mar. 9, 2022. “The Library is the only place in America where you can go and they’re not going to try and sell you something, they’re going to give you something,” Baker said. “It’s free. It’s this free knowledge thta makes us a free country.”

Suzette Baker, former head librarian at the Kingsland Branch Library in the Llano County Library System, talks about some books with her attorney Iris Halpern, partner at Rathod Mohamedbhai LLC, at the Edwards Law office on Monday, Mar. 4, 2024 in Austin. Baker protested against the removal of books that were called “pornographic,” and was terminated on Mar. 9, 2022. “The Library is the only place in America where you can go and they’re not going to try and sell you something, they’re going to give you something,” Baker said. “It’s free. It’s this free knowledge thta makes us a free country.”

Suzette Baker, former head librarian at the Kingsland Branch Library in the Llano County Library System, and her attorney Iris Halpern, partner at Rathod Mohamedbhai LLC, look through some books at the Edwards Law office on Monday, Mar. 4, 2024 in Austin. Baker protested against the removal of books that were called “pornographic,” and was terminated on Mar. 9, 2022. “The Library is the only place in America where you can go and they’re not going to try and sell you something, they’re going to give you something,” Baker said. “It’s free. It’s this free knowledge thta makes us a free country.”

Jil Dillard, a Llano High School librarian, right, and Terrie Smarr, a Llano resident, left, listen to a live stream of a Llano County Commissioner’s Court meeting at the Llano County Law Enforcement Center on Thursday, April 13, 2023 in Llano, Texas. The Commissioner’s Court met to discuss closing the Llano County library system rather than comply with a judge’s order to return several controversial books to the libraries’ shelves. Only 35 residents were allowed into the meeting and were required to pre-register. “I am disappointed that they were not willing to et a venue where the whole community could participate. It would have been really nice to be inside.”

Diane Moster celebrates as a Llano County Commissioner’s Court meeting comes to an end at the Llano County Law Enforcement Center on Thursday, April 13, 2023 in Llano, Texas. The Commissioner’s Court met to discuss closing the Llano County library system rather than comply with a judge’s order to return several controversial books to the libraries’ shelves. The court ultimately decided to keep the libraries open.

Llano Assistant Chief of Police Matt Lincoln calls names of community members to testify at a Llano County Commissioner’s Court meeting at the Llano County Law Enforcement Center on Thursday, April 13, 2023 in Llano, Texas.

Llano resident Worth Green holds a written statement he wanted to deliver at a Llano County Commissioner’s Court meeting at the Llano County Law Enforcement Center on Thursday, April 13, 2023 in Llano, Texas. Green said he and his wife were told at noon that they could sign up to testify at 2:30 p.m. When they did call, they learned all slots were full and that registration opened at about 10:00 a.m.

Diane Moster, left, and Katherine Chiarello, right, celebrate as a Llano County Commissioner’s Court meeting comes to an end at the Llano County Law Enforcement Center on Thursday, April 13, 2023 in Llano, Texas. The Commissioner’s Court met to discuss closing the Llano County library system rather than comply with a judge’s order to return several controversial books to the libraries’ shelves. The court ultimately decided to keep the libraries open.

Llano resident Worth Green holds a written statement he wanted to deliver at a Llano County Commissioner’s Court meeting at the Llano County Law Enforcement Center on Thursday, April 13, 2023 in Llano, Texas. Green said he and his wife were told at noon that they could sign up to testify at 2:30 p.m. When they did call, they learned all slots were full and that registration opened at about 10:00 a.m.