Houston Public MediaAug 29, 2025

The former Montgomery County library director has filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming that county commissioners and the county judge discriminated against her when they fired her earlier this year. 

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/education/books-libraries/2025/08/29/529787/former-montgomery-county-library-director-sues-county-judge-commissioners-for-alleged-discrimination/

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Ousted Montgomery County library director sues county judge, commissioners for alleged discrimination

Rhea Young said she decided to file the lawsuit because she believes her termination was in retaliation for not wanting to segregate and limit access to books that contain LGBTQ+ themes or ideas.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaJan 31, 2025

The Montgomery County Commissioners Court voted this week to terminate the county’s library director, following months of discussions regarding book policies.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/education/books-libraries/2025/01/31/512667/montgomery-county-commissioners-terminate-library-director/

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Montgomery County commissioners terminate library director, put county judge in charge

Since Rhea Young became director of the Houston-area library system in 2022, she was instructed to add more conservative-themed books to the shelves and an age restriction was placed on materials perceived to be sexually explicit. County commissioners also created a citizen-led book review board.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaOct 22, 2024

A Montgomery County committee charged with reviewing and vetting certain library books was condemned by an international publishing company after allegations it incorrectly categorized a historical children's book as fiction.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/education/books-libraries/2024/10/22/503643/montgomery-county-committee-incorrectly-categorized-historical-book-as-fiction-publisher-says/

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Montgomery County committee incorrectly categorized historical book as fiction, publisher says

Coombs is a historian and author from the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah. She wrote children's books for a museum series that highlighted aspects of southern New English tribal cultures, according to Penguin Random House.

Houston Public Media