A library dean at a Florida college, which has undergone significant changes due to state Republican influences, has been placed on administrative leave following the disposal of hundreds of books, including many addressing LGBTQ+ themes, last week.

A spokesperson confirmed to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, part of the YSL News Network, that Shannon Hausinger, the library’s dean at New College of Florida, has been placed on leave.

The disposal of the books and Hausinger’s administrative leave are the latest incidents at New College, a small liberal arts institution in Sarasota, which has recently faced a major transformation driven by Governor Ron DeSantis. He has sought to reshape the college to mirror the conservative Hillsdale College in Michigan.

New leadership was put in place, causing many students and longtime faculty members to leave for other universities. The newly appointed board voted to abolish the gender studies program, leading DeSantis to declare that New College was “the first public university to resist gender indoctrination.”

On August 13, many books were seen piling up in a dumpster behind the Jane Bancroft Cook Library. Images and videos of the massive pile of books, many covering LGBTQ+ and religious topics, triggered a wave of backlash and extensive media attention.

Along with the library books, items from the now-closed Gender and Diversity Center—a student-organized library that focused on LGBTQ+ resources, narratives from Black individuals, and women’s studies—were also discarded. Some of the books found among the trash included “Nine and Counting: The Women of the Senate,” “The War of the Worlds,” and “When I Knew,” a collection of stories from LGBTQ+ individuals sharing their experiences of realizing their sexual orientation.

As of Monday afternoon, the specifics regarding Hausinger’s leave, such as its cause and duration, remained unclear. She has been part of New College since February 2024, according to her LinkedIn profile.

New College spokesperson Nathan March stated that Hausinger’s leave was “taken after discovering the library did not adhere to all state administrative protocols during the routine disposal of materials.”

It’s not clear which exact state protocols were allegedly violated, but the college’s initial statement mentioned Florida Statute 273, which it claimed limited its ability to donate books rather than dispose of them. However, the statute indicates that the college is permitted to donate or sell surplus books.

Videos and images from the book disposal event have spread widely online, gaining millions of views on social media and triggering significant nationwide media coverage.

In a statement sent Monday to students, faculty, and staff, New College President Richard Corcoran recognized the public’s concerns regarding the book disposal and criticized the media’s portrayal of the incident.

“Sadly, much of the reporting has been exaggerated, feeding into our critics’ narratives,” Corcoran stated. “While seeing thousands of books in a dumpster is not a good look, it’s vital to understand that disposing of materials is a standard practice in libraries, ensuring our collection remains current, relevant, and in good condition for community use.”

Contributing: C. A. Bridges, YSL News Network; Christopher Cann, YSL News