CONTACT
CITY
COUNCIL
Please remember that maintaining decorum ensures that everyone has an opportunity to express their views in a civil and orderly manner. We have worked hard to foster a constructive dialogue between ARFA and our government officials and we want to set a positive example for future civic engagement, promoting a culture of respect and cooperation in local governance processes.
Email Template:
Subject line ideas:
Please uphold the Library Board’s decision
Trust our librarians. Respect the process.
Protect the right to read
Dear [City Council Member],
I’m writing to ask that you uphold the Library Advisory Board’s decision and choose not to take up the appeal to further restrict access to the three books recently reviewed by our library system.
I know that for many, this issue feels deeply personal — especially when it comes to what children might see or read. I believe most of us, regardless of political background, want kids to be safe, supported, and surrounded by people who care about them. But banning books is not the way to protect children. What it does is remove the freedom of families to make their own decisions — and it sends a dangerous message that some stories, identities, and lived experiences don’t belong in Amarillo.
These three books were reviewed carefully and professionally. The process worked exactly as intended. It was thoughtful, thorough, and community-based. To override that decision now would be to say that our library staff and citizen-led board can’t be trusted to do the job they were asked to do.
It would also signal something much deeper: that political pressure can overtake our public institutions.
We are seeing this happen in towns across Texas and the country — coordinated efforts to remove books that deal with race, gender, trauma, identity, and difference. These campaigns don’t reflect the reality of our community. Amarillo families are smart, loving, and capable of deciding what’s best for their own households. They don’t need the government to decide that for them.
Book bans don’t protect children — they keep them from seeing themselves, and others, in the stories they read. And they do real harm by isolating the very kids who most need to feel understood, accepted, and safe.
Please don’t let this turn into another political flashpoint. You have the opportunity to do something brave and quiet here: Let the process speak for itself. Respect the judgment of the Library Board. And show your community that you believe in personal freedom and the right of every Amarilloan to learn, grow, and read without fear or shame.
Thank you for your time, your service, and your consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Zip Code or Neighborhood]
Remember that you cannot email all the council members at the same time. This email will need to be sent separately to each member’s email address:
Mayor Cole Stanley: cole.stanley@amarillo.gov
Councilman Place 1, Josh Craft: josh.craft@amarillo.gov
Councilman Place 2, Don Tipps: don.tipps@amarillo.gov
Councilman Place 3, Tom Scherlen: tom.scherlen@amarillo.gov
Councilman Place 4, Les Simpson: les.simpson@amarillo.gov
Please note that the city secretary has to be CC’d on all correspondence: stephanie.coggins@amarillo.gov
Voicemail/Text Template:
Hello [City Council Member's Name]!
My name is [Your Name], and I’m a resident of Amarillo. I’m urging you not to take up the appeal regarding books in our public libraries.
Our library’s review process was thoughtful, fair, and followed all the right steps. Overriding it would send the message that political gestures matters more than community trust or professional expertise.
Please let the Library Board’s decision stand. Say no to censorship, and yes to our freedom to read.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Name] [Zip Code]
Remember that you cannot call/text all the council members at the same time. This will need to be sent separately to each member’s phone number:
Mayor Cole Stanley: (806) 584-6175
Councilman Place 1, Josh Craft: (806) 378-3014
Councilman Place 2, Don Tipps: (806) 673-7770
Councilman Place 3, Tom Scherlen: (806) 670-6104
Councilman Place 4, Les Simpson: (806) 681-9452
Please note that the script can be used for a phone call, voicemail, or text.
Talking Points:
Public Libraries
Libraries are some of the last truly public spaces left — they’re safe places where everyone can access knowledge and community, no matter their background.
Librarians have always worked hand-in-hand with parents to help them choose books that are right for their children. That partnership should be trusted — not undermined.
Amarillo’s library system followed protocol. The Library Advisory Board did its job thoughtfully. Overriding their decision would send the message that public process and community input don’t matter.
Education and Development
We all want our children to grow up kind, curious, and compassionate, but book bans compromise kids’ education and emotional development. They teach fear, not empathy.
Young people deserve an honest, accurate education — one that teaches history and humanity.
We can’t prepare students for the future by hiding the past or silencing the present. All people deserve access to knowledge that reflects the diverse and wonderful world we live in.
On Censorship and Politics
Politicians pushing censorship aren’t defending kids — they’re using them to score points in a culture war.
If lawmakers really cared about kids, they’d fund schools and raise teacher pay — not police library shelves.
Representation and Visibility
For many kids, books are the first time they see someone like themselves. Whether it’s about race, gender, family structure, or identity — those stories matter.
When we remove those stories, we tell certain kids and young adults: you don’t belong here. That is not the Amarillo we want for our children and grandchildren.
All children — no matter who they are or where they live — should have access to books that reflect their lives and help them understand others’.
On the Harm of Book Bans
This isn’t about protecting kids — it’s about controlling them.
Book bans isolate the very kids who most need support, understanding, and safety.
We don’t make children safer by erasing stories. We make them safer by making sure they know they’re not alone.
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
A cornerstone of American literature, The Bluest Eye was the first novel written by Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison.
It addresses complex topics such as race, beauty standards, trauma, and abuse through the story of a young Black girl growing up in 1940s America.
The book is powerful, heartbreaking, and deeply important — not because it is easy to read, but because it tells a story that challenges us to confront injustice. Attempts to remove it ignore its literary value and the historical truths it presents.
The Every Body Book by Rachel Simon
This is an inclusive, age-appropriate resource designed to help kids understand bodies, boundaries, and consent.
It teaches important lessons like “everyone is the boss of their own body” and helps kids recognize the difference between safe and unsafe touch — a key tool in preventing abuse.
Rather than being inappropriate, this book is a helpful guide for parents, educators, and kids navigating essential conversations about health and safety.
Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
This award-winning memoir explores the author's journey with gender identity and self-discovery.
Claims that it depicts minors engaging in sexual activity are false. The only sexual encounter in the book occurs when the author is in grad school — well into adulthood.
Gender Queer has been a lifeline for many young adults navigating questions about identity. Removing it erases a voice that helps others feel seen and understood.
Messaging That Resonates:
Libraries are for everyone. Every kid deserves to see themselves in the stories they read.
Librarians are not the enemy. They’re trained professionals who have always helped parents find age-appropriate books.
Book bans don’t protect kids — they isolate them.
We don’t erase problems by erasing books. We teach kids how to navigate the world by giving them access to it.
No one book is for everyone — but every book is for someone.
The government has no place deciding what books your family can or can’t read.
Censorship is not care.
Texas kids deserve more empathy, more truth — not fear and control.
Messaging Guidance:
Keep kids at the center. Focus on empathy, safety, and freedom — not partisanship.
Don’t blame parents. Acknowledge that every family should be able to choose what’s right for their children — not everyone else’s. The blame belongs solely on politicians who are inserting themselves for personal political aspirations under the guise of transparency and protecting children.
Avoid extreme terms like “indoctrination” — they often backfire and reinforce opponents’ talking points.
Instead of saying “equity,” say: "Every child, no matter their background, should have access to books that reflect their world and broaden their perspective."