Harris County Library shuts down over sexual assault allegations

CAIRO — A Harris County library has shut down, according to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, after allegations that it had failed to protect female students who had been sexually assaulted.

The Harris County Public Library Board met Friday night to decide whether to close the library or reopen it as a public library, according the district attorney’s office.

The board’s next meeting is scheduled for May 23.

The district attorney said the library had no official notice of the decision, and it was unclear whether the board would discuss the matter with the Harris Police Department.

District Attorney Kevin Steele told the Harris Tribune on Thursday that the library was “not going to be allowed to close, and we have no idea when we’re going to reopen.”

He said it would be “appropriate” to seek the cooperation of the Harris police and district attorney from the Harris Public Library board.

The board’s decision comes on the heels of a series of high-profile sexual misconduct cases involving female students, including one case where a male student was arrested for sexual assault after allegedly sexually assaulting another student.

The school district has faced numerous complaints about sexual misconduct at the Harris library, with more than 40 sexual harassment allegations since 2016.

A majority of those allegations were dismissed or dismissed without charges.