Librarian Patty Hector has received a settlement from an Arkansas county after she said she was dismissed for opposing LGBTQ+ books being removed from the children’s section of the library. 

The lawsuit with Saline County was filed by Hector after she was terminated from her job as Library Executive Director in October 2023, when she found fault with an ordinance that required books with “sexual content or imagery” to be moved out of children’s reach. 

The incident occurred amid a wider push to restrict children’s access to books, which focused heavily on removing LGBTQ+ material from libraries. Hector rejected the notion that LGBTQ+ themed books were inappropriate for children, stating at a public hearing, “It’s not illegal to be gay or trans.”

The Saline County Library Board declined to fire Hector for her stance, but the Saline County Quorum Court passed an ordinance transferring authority over library personnel to Judge Matthew Brumley. Brumley used this new power to fire Hector after months of her opposition to relocating books that were deemed “inappropriate” for the children’s section. The books in question included topics such as sex education and systemic racism.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Arkansas, a civil rights organisation, represented Hector and brought a federal lawsuit against the county and Brumley. In 2025, Hector alleged the dismissal was in retaliation for her opposition to the ordinance and was in violation of her First Amendment right to free speech. 

Legal director of the ACLU of Arkansas, John Williams, made the following statement regarding the lawsuit: “Patty Hector stood up for the idea that censorship is wrong and that libraries serve all members of their communities, not politicians. For that, she paid an enormous personal price.

“This settlement provides meaningful relief for Patty. It should also serve as a warning. Public employees have constitutional rights, and political disagreement is not a license to punish them for protected speech. We will defend intellectual freedom and will defend librarians from attack.”

The settlement to the former librarian of $275,000 was announced on August 27. Brumley stated the decision was made to avoid any further expensive litigation. Hector received $225,000, with $50,000 going towards the legal fees.

In a news release from the ACLU of Arkansas, Hector had this to say regarding the settlement: “Standing up for the freedom to read cost me a job and a career I loved, but I never believed that staying silent was the answer. Libraries belong to everyone, and librarians should be able to serve their communities according to professional standards without fearing political retaliation.

“I hope this settlement sends a message to librarians and other public servants across Arkansas that their voices and their constitutional rights matter.”