Library Update & Welcome for New Director Ashley Cummins
The ImagineIF Library trustees and key staff members had a long work session last week to discuss several issues that have been causing tensions. Items on the agenda were the process for selecting books, choosing the library’s art displays, staff/trustee relationships, and more. For a thorough summary of the meeting, you can read this article from the Flathead Beacon.
Book censorship discussion
One thing is very clear: Trustee Doug Adams is intent on changing library policies so board members can unilaterally remove books from the library and have “final say” over which books are purchased. It seems that trustee David Ingram and board chair Heidi Roedel will support him. During the meeting, Roedel said, “So if we voted no on [Gender Queer], we wouldn’t be banning or censoring it, we would just be doing our jobs as trustees.”
Adams also expressed an interest in giving board members the power to prevent librarians from purchasing books that they disapprove of. Adams said that he wanted this power “on the front end” in order to avoid future book challenges. Libraries have book challenge processes in open meetings so that the public can see every step of the decision, including library staff recommendations and discussions. Giving trustees the power to veto library books due to personal preference and without a transparent process would be another attack on the First Amendment rights of Flathead County residents.
Removing books from the collection or rejecting book purchases are forms of censorship, and it’s possible that the county would be sued if they voted to remove the book Gender Queer. We’re asking you to send another round of emails to tell officials that a censorship lawsuit would be fiscally irresponsible.
Talking points
Please tell the ImagineIF Library trustees and Flathead County Commissioners that you reject censorship, and removing Gender Queer is definitely censorship.
Tell them you hope they do get more information on legal issues around censorship from the state library.
Tell them that removing Gender Queer could trigger a lawsuit.
Ask them if they know how much a censorship lawsuit would cost and who is going to pay for it.
Initial research on this topic has shown that a lawsuit like this could drag out for years and possibly exceed $100,000. The community deserves to know how the county would pay for this lawsuit. Would it be subtracted from the library budget or come from other taxpayer funds? If taxpayer funds are going to be wasted this way, voters and taxpayers deserve to know which
Library staff members are planning to prepare a presentation on how books are selected for the collection. Trustees also agreed to hear more about legal issues regarding First Amendment rights related to book challenges. We’re hoping that this presentation will help the three trustees understand why book censorship has been repeatedly rejected by courts in America.
Welcome Ashley Cummins!
Ashley is the new library director of the ImagineIF Libraries! She is starting the job during a very difficult time. It’s clear that she is working hard to chart a path through this situation, even though three library trustees have not created an environment where she can succeed. Please take a few minutes to send her an email to let her know that the community supports her. Her email is Acummins@imagineiflibraries.org
Questions? Please email info@loveliveshereflathead.org.