Wear Orange to Support Library Staff at March 10 Staff/Trustee Work Session

Please support ImagineIF library staff and current library policies by attending a portion of the work session they have scheduled from 9 am to 5 pm on Thursday, March 10 in the library’s community room, located in the library basement. This meeting will include library trustees, the new library director, and library staff members. If possible, wear orange or an ImagineIF lapel pin to show your support!

This meeting is another chance for community members to keep an eye on the library trustees’ statements and actions. It appears that three trustees (Heidi Roedel, Doug Adams, and David Ingram) have been coordinating with each other and county commissioners to ban books, put unnecessary pressure on dedicated library staff, and create a false narrative that the library is not a safe and welcoming place for everyone. Some of their suggestions to change policies are clear violations of Montana law and/or the US Constitution.

We are also concerned that these trustees might use the meeting to spread more misinformation that is designed to blame library staff for problems that they have created. The agenda for the March 10 meeting is fairly vague, so it’s important to have library supporters there so staff members have support in case trustees try to assert unfounded accusations or misinformation.

Several trustees are trying to blame the library staff for recent tensions, but it is clear that their own actions and statements are meant to create division and harm. If left unchecked, these trustees might give themselves the power to take away people’s First Amendment rights and lead the library into a serious decline that would lead to a loss of staff and services.

Flathead Valley residents and library patrons deserve more than this. Please help us hold the trustees accountable for their actions and give the library staff encouragement by attending Thursday’s meeting, even if you can only be there for an hour. Click here to sign up for one slot or several, or just show up when your schedule allows! Don’t feel pressure to attend the entire meeting.

Questions? Email info@loveliveshereflathead.org.