Robert, have you seen what county supervisors are doing to library budgets in Kossuth, Woodbury, and other Iowa counties? Forget state laws. Libraries are being defunded at the local level.
Gordon, thank you for mentioning this. I started asking librarians about it, and a friend is from Kossuth County, who gave me the inside scoop. I may have to drive up there. Thanks for the tip. I've started gathering information.
Sixty-plus years ago, back when the library card was a coveted sign of my status as a young reader, Miss Botts and Mrs. Sager were never viewed as conspirators of controversy in the corner of the free world where I grew up.
I never remember a time when their domain, Bloomfield's library shelves, was a controversial place to be.
That was then. Now, too many people in Iowa have drawn targets on the backs of the librarians in Iowa's schools and town libraries.
Much of the controversy has come from people who want to block their own children and grandchildren from having access to certain books and who also want to block other people's children from reading those books, too.
But recent news out of Marshalltown shows library officials are creating some of the discord themselves - by neglecting to bring a dose of common sense to their work. And I am not talking about stripping controversy from the library shelves.
Allow me to update you about the controversy in Marshalltown. I think that will help you understand why that city's library dispute is so unfortunate and so unnecessary.
The Marshalltown Times-Republican has reported on the strong feelings that have formed since John Worden of Green Mountain, a patron of the Marshalltown Public Library, first asked the library to purchase subscriptions to a couple of conservative publications, American Rifleman magazine and the Epoch Times newspaper, for library visitors to read.
Library director Sarah Rosenblum and the library's board of trustees have steadfastly said "no" - even after Worden and another library patron offered to pay the cost.
Rosenblum explained at a meeting of the board of trustees that she made a "deep dive" into the content in American Rifleman and the Epoch Times. The gun magazine is published by the National Rifle Association. Epoch Times is affiliated with the Falun Gong religious movement.
She had what she called serious concerns about the science coverage in Epoch Times and about the American Rifleman being a benefit of NRA membership.
Every library in Iowa cannot accommodate every book, every magazine, and every newspaper. But that is really the same point some parents and some grandparents are making about certain books written for teenage and pre-teen readers.
These parents and grandparents are saying there are plenty of other books available for young readers, so why must these LGBTQ books be available. The response from librarians, teachers and other parents correctly comes down to, yes, you can block your child from reading those books, but libraries should not be blocking other parents who may want their child to have access to those books.
This is where a dose of common sense is needed by officials at the Marshalltown library.
If we trust parents to make the correct choice for what books their children read, shouldn't we trust adults to make the correct choice for what newspapers and magazines these adults choose to read?
Worden told the Marshalltown library trustees that he had done an even deeper dive into the content of American Rifleman and Epoch Times that the head librarian has, the Times Republican reported.
"I think that the staff and this board is inserting themselves between the patrons and the material," Worden said. "The patrons own this building and everything that's in it. They pay the wages. They come first."
Another library patron echoed Worden's comments. Ray Mitchem told trustees, "I think we have to be careful not to put blinders on. I think the public can choose. The public should decide if it is something for them" - he said of the publications Worden has suggested.
Gary Thompson, a member of the Marshalltown City Council, attended the library's January meeting and weighed in on Worden's request.
"You guys allow your patrons to use the internet," he said. "They're going to find misinformation, pros and cons, on everything. I think you guys made a big mistake."
The councilman's comments about access to the internet is the same one that defenders of LGBTQ books in school libraries make in support of having those available. Kids have access via the internet to content that is even more extreme than what is found in the library.
Libraries traditionally have been advocates for intellectual freedom - making many views and perspectives available for their patrons. Through the years, libraries have taken the position that there is no place for censorship in a free society.
The Marshalltown library's policies even state, "The library will not reject materials which are requested by patrons or suggested by standard review sources because of the point of view or ideas they reflect."
Call me naïve, but I think John Worden is correct. A well-rounded public library should have the American Rifleman and the Epoch Times on its shelves, especially if a generous donor is taking care of the expense.
------
Randy Evans is the executive director of the
Iowa Freedom of Information Council. He can be reached
But ..... but ....... but .............. Uneasy times as library shuts out other ideas.
14 Nov 2023 — Marshalltown Times-Republican
Randy Evans
The word for today is optics - but not the kind where your eye doctor is an expert.
Instead of eyeglasses, I am thinking about the kind of optics that result when the perception of some person's or some institution's values are contradicted by the reality of the actions they take.
Here's an example. This involves poor optics.
Librarians across Iowa have been put on the defensive by parents and grandparents who criticize some of the thousands of books that fill a community library or school library. This criticism has been especially sharp toward books intended for teenage readers that contain content with homosexual or transsexual themes or that include descriptions of sexual encounters that some people believe are too explicit for these readers.
Librarians have stepped forward to explain that it is not proper for people to force the removal of challenged books, thereby taking away other people's ability to choose what they want to read or what they want their children to read. Library administrators have informed parents how they can limit the books their children have access to in the library or in the classroom.
But those reasonable explanations are not the same message the Marshalltown Public Library is giving some patrons about content aimed at adult readers, not at young readers.
John Worden told me in an email last week he has been called "our problem patron" by library administrators, because he has attended Marshalltown library board meetings for the past 12 months to ask the library to provide subscriptions to a couple of conservative publications, the American Rifleman magazine and the Epoch Times newspaper. The library has refused - even when a couple of library patrons offered to pay for the subscriptions.
Library director Sarah Rosenblum told library trustees earlier this year she had made a "deep dive" into the content of these publications and has serious concerns about the science coverage in Epoch Times and about the gun magazine being published by the National Rifle Association. No one expects libraries to carry every book, every magazine, and every newspaper. But how can libraries defend the presence of some books whose themes and content have been challenged by parents and then insist, as Marshalltown's library does, that a gun magazine and a conservative newspaper do not belong in that library's collection?
Librarians have long advocated for what is called intellectual freedom. They believe in the principle of making lots of views and perspectives available and leaving it to their patrons to pick and choose what they want to read.
Most libraries operate like a buffet. Some people come for the steamed broccoli. Others are drawn by the three-bean salad. That is why it is so baffling Marshalltown officials would dig in their heels and ignore reasonable requests from "our problem patron."
The library dust-up in Marshalltown certainly shows the scope of our current political divide in Iowa. You often hear people talking about how Iowans are more divided now than they have been in the past.
But Michael Giudicessi, a Des Moines attorney, provided important context and insight when he spoke last week at the annual meeting of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council. Michael reminded us that in 1857, Iowa voters ratified the state's constitution. Legal scholars praise the document for its clear recitation of the meaning behind the motto on Iowa's great seal. We learned it in Iowa history classes: "Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain."
But in the beginning, the constitution was not resoundingly popular with people living in the state.
The ratification vote was 40,311 in favor and 38,681 against. That was an approval margin of 1,630 votes - meaning that a shift of 816 votes would have torpedoed the constitution Iowans still live under 166 years later.
Andrew Carnagie is indeed spinning in his grave !!
I practically lived in libraries when I was a kid but I’m 72 now and haven’t been to one in years. I have grandchildren, doing well in school who perhaps have never set foot in one. Libraries need to move on line. Stop making them porn stores. That would help. Libraries enjoyed wide support just a short time ago. Now they don’t and that’s on you.
Andrew Carnegie required that each library he funded have an outdoor stairway with which to reach the front door. His philosophy is that we “ascend to knowledge, and thereby wisdom.” He would, indeed, be rolling over.
Thanks Bob. It is not a secret that some national groups and elected officials believe libraries are storehouses for left wing propaganda. It is happening in the light of day.
Thanks Ralph. These links are quite valuable. I needed to turn the piece over quickly given the rally on Monday, so I didn't get much time to do background research. This will help a great deal as I follow up. I plan to be at the capitol tomorrow, so I will probably follow up. Also, librarians are reaching out to me with more information. One thing I should have said is that this will hit small towns in rural Iowa the hardest. So wrong-headed. Thanks again.
I watched Iowa Press this past Friday night. The guest was the Republican Senate Majority Leader. The questions presented were mostly soft tosses, underhand. The responses were not always representative of all Iowans. We get the government we vote for. Obviously, Iowa is a very red state. This Senate Study Bill that Mr. Leonard is describing assaults our small rural communities. Very sad.
My mother was a grade-school librarian, taught 5th-grade social studies, and served on our community's public library board. Much of my love for books, literature, and learning was fostered by her as well as the librarian at our community's public library. And both influenced so many other kids as well over their careers.
Our kids were similarly influence by a couple of librarians at Lawrence's public library. All kids deserve to have access to that through their public libraries and public schools. I hope you're able to defeat this bill. I could easily see Kansas GOP legislators coming up with something similar.
I remember the friendly bookmobile man always having some selections for me that he thought I might like. I always did. I still remember his smile when he saw me waiting patiently in line as he arrived.
Thank you for the piece, Bob, about an issue close to my heart. I'm glad you quoted Bradbury, and avoided the the term "culture war"—for we are in Fahrenheit 451 territory here, not "culture war" territory. (The NY Times employed that thoughtless catch phrase yesterday, in a badly reported piece they ran on red state attacks on libraries, which mentioned Pella.)
What I never see mentioned in reporting: claims of "porn/obscenity" is code for LGBTQ authors; and claims of content that is "unpatriotic" or "upsetting to kids" is code for books by writers of color. They're not just banning books, they're banning people.
As an addition to your Step 5 (contact your representative), may I also suggest: tell that representative you are a single-issue voter with regard to keeping libraries free and independent. (It's also safe to assume that any politician who is anti-library, will be in favor of all kinds of "crazy legislation.")
Thanks Diana. I've tried to avoid saying culture war since our interview. I'll remember your middle paragraph above for the next piece I write about it and give you credit. thanks again, bob
I have fond memories from when I was little, rampaging (politely) through the library during the summer. The library had books for every step of my growth, be it dinosaur books or Spider-Man comics or 1800s novels. I am appalled to think of a community losing their library after all the knowledge and entertainment mine has provided me.
Our legislators have gone after the rights of my LGBTQ+ friends. They’ve gone after my female friends’ right to body autonomy. They’ve gone after my right to a good public education. They’ve gone after our collective right to vote. They can keep their filthy paws off my library.
Robert, have you seen what county supervisors are doing to library budgets in Kossuth, Woodbury, and other Iowa counties? Forget state laws. Libraries are being defunded at the local level.
Gordon, thank you for mentioning this. I started asking librarians about it, and a friend is from Kossuth County, who gave me the inside scoop. I may have to drive up there. Thanks for the tip. I've started gathering information.
Libraries shouldn't look for excuses to exclude
28 Feb 2023 — Times-Republican
Randy Evans
This has not been an easy time to be a librarian.
Sixty-plus years ago, back when the library card was a coveted sign of my status as a young reader, Miss Botts and Mrs. Sager were never viewed as conspirators of controversy in the corner of the free world where I grew up.
I never remember a time when their domain, Bloomfield's library shelves, was a controversial place to be.
That was then. Now, too many people in Iowa have drawn targets on the backs of the librarians in Iowa's schools and town libraries.
Much of the controversy has come from people who want to block their own children and grandchildren from having access to certain books and who also want to block other people's children from reading those books, too.
But recent news out of Marshalltown shows library officials are creating some of the discord themselves - by neglecting to bring a dose of common sense to their work. And I am not talking about stripping controversy from the library shelves.
Allow me to update you about the controversy in Marshalltown. I think that will help you understand why that city's library dispute is so unfortunate and so unnecessary.
The Marshalltown Times-Republican has reported on the strong feelings that have formed since John Worden of Green Mountain, a patron of the Marshalltown Public Library, first asked the library to purchase subscriptions to a couple of conservative publications, American Rifleman magazine and the Epoch Times newspaper, for library visitors to read.
Library director Sarah Rosenblum and the library's board of trustees have steadfastly said "no" - even after Worden and another library patron offered to pay the cost.
Rosenblum explained at a meeting of the board of trustees that she made a "deep dive" into the content in American Rifleman and the Epoch Times. The gun magazine is published by the National Rifle Association. Epoch Times is affiliated with the Falun Gong religious movement.
She had what she called serious concerns about the science coverage in Epoch Times and about the American Rifleman being a benefit of NRA membership.
Every library in Iowa cannot accommodate every book, every magazine, and every newspaper. But that is really the same point some parents and some grandparents are making about certain books written for teenage and pre-teen readers.
These parents and grandparents are saying there are plenty of other books available for young readers, so why must these LGBTQ books be available. The response from librarians, teachers and other parents correctly comes down to, yes, you can block your child from reading those books, but libraries should not be blocking other parents who may want their child to have access to those books.
This is where a dose of common sense is needed by officials at the Marshalltown library.
If we trust parents to make the correct choice for what books their children read, shouldn't we trust adults to make the correct choice for what newspapers and magazines these adults choose to read?
Worden told the Marshalltown library trustees that he had done an even deeper dive into the content of American Rifleman and Epoch Times that the head librarian has, the Times Republican reported.
"I think that the staff and this board is inserting themselves between the patrons and the material," Worden said. "The patrons own this building and everything that's in it. They pay the wages. They come first."
Another library patron echoed Worden's comments. Ray Mitchem told trustees, "I think we have to be careful not to put blinders on. I think the public can choose. The public should decide if it is something for them" - he said of the publications Worden has suggested.
Gary Thompson, a member of the Marshalltown City Council, attended the library's January meeting and weighed in on Worden's request.
"You guys allow your patrons to use the internet," he said. "They're going to find misinformation, pros and cons, on everything. I think you guys made a big mistake."
The councilman's comments about access to the internet is the same one that defenders of LGBTQ books in school libraries make in support of having those available. Kids have access via the internet to content that is even more extreme than what is found in the library.
Libraries traditionally have been advocates for intellectual freedom - making many views and perspectives available for their patrons. Through the years, libraries have taken the position that there is no place for censorship in a free society.
The Marshalltown library's policies even state, "The library will not reject materials which are requested by patrons or suggested by standard review sources because of the point of view or ideas they reflect."
Call me naïve, but I think John Worden is correct. A well-rounded public library should have the American Rifleman and the Epoch Times on its shelves, especially if a generous donor is taking care of the expense.
------
Randy Evans is the executive director of the
Iowa Freedom of Information Council. He can be reached
at DMRevans2810@gmail.com.
But ..... but ....... but .............. Uneasy times as library shuts out other ideas.
14 Nov 2023 — Marshalltown Times-Republican
Randy Evans
The word for today is optics - but not the kind where your eye doctor is an expert.
Instead of eyeglasses, I am thinking about the kind of optics that result when the perception of some person's or some institution's values are contradicted by the reality of the actions they take.
Here's an example. This involves poor optics.
Librarians across Iowa have been put on the defensive by parents and grandparents who criticize some of the thousands of books that fill a community library or school library. This criticism has been especially sharp toward books intended for teenage readers that contain content with homosexual or transsexual themes or that include descriptions of sexual encounters that some people believe are too explicit for these readers.
Librarians have stepped forward to explain that it is not proper for people to force the removal of challenged books, thereby taking away other people's ability to choose what they want to read or what they want their children to read. Library administrators have informed parents how they can limit the books their children have access to in the library or in the classroom.
But those reasonable explanations are not the same message the Marshalltown Public Library is giving some patrons about content aimed at adult readers, not at young readers.
John Worden told me in an email last week he has been called "our problem patron" by library administrators, because he has attended Marshalltown library board meetings for the past 12 months to ask the library to provide subscriptions to a couple of conservative publications, the American Rifleman magazine and the Epoch Times newspaper. The library has refused - even when a couple of library patrons offered to pay for the subscriptions.
Library director Sarah Rosenblum told library trustees earlier this year she had made a "deep dive" into the content of these publications and has serious concerns about the science coverage in Epoch Times and about the gun magazine being published by the National Rifle Association. No one expects libraries to carry every book, every magazine, and every newspaper. But how can libraries defend the presence of some books whose themes and content have been challenged by parents and then insist, as Marshalltown's library does, that a gun magazine and a conservative newspaper do not belong in that library's collection?
Librarians have long advocated for what is called intellectual freedom. They believe in the principle of making lots of views and perspectives available and leaving it to their patrons to pick and choose what they want to read.
Most libraries operate like a buffet. Some people come for the steamed broccoli. Others are drawn by the three-bean salad. That is why it is so baffling Marshalltown officials would dig in their heels and ignore reasonable requests from "our problem patron."
The library dust-up in Marshalltown certainly shows the scope of our current political divide in Iowa. You often hear people talking about how Iowans are more divided now than they have been in the past.
But Michael Giudicessi, a Des Moines attorney, provided important context and insight when he spoke last week at the annual meeting of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council. Michael reminded us that in 1857, Iowa voters ratified the state's constitution. Legal scholars praise the document for its clear recitation of the meaning behind the motto on Iowa's great seal. We learned it in Iowa history classes: "Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain."
But in the beginning, the constitution was not resoundingly popular with people living in the state.
The ratification vote was 40,311 in favor and 38,681 against. That was an approval margin of 1,630 votes - meaning that a shift of 816 votes would have torpedoed the constitution Iowans still live under 166 years later.
Andrew Carnagie is indeed spinning in his grave !!
The problem patron
I practically lived in libraries when I was a kid but I’m 72 now and haven’t been to one in years. I have grandchildren, doing well in school who perhaps have never set foot in one. Libraries need to move on line. Stop making them porn stores. That would help. Libraries enjoyed wide support just a short time ago. Now they don’t and that’s on you.
Andrew Carnegie required that each library he funded have an outdoor stairway with which to reach the front door. His philosophy is that we “ascend to knowledge, and thereby wisdom.” He would, indeed, be rolling over.
Ironic that the root of the word republican actually means “for the common good”. How far they have fallen from their origins.
Thank you, Bob. Libraries are so much more than books. They are the anchors of so many communities in Iowa.
I've shared this to my facebook page. It is one more example of the overreach the Republican legislators. Shameful...
Thanks Bob. It is not a secret that some national groups and elected officials believe libraries are storehouses for left wing propaganda. It is happening in the light of day.
Last year in Iowa, Iowa Commission of Libraries loses power to select state librarian, direct funds under government reorganization bill, https://www.iowapublicradio.org/state-government-news/2023-03-20/changes-will-come-to-the-state-library-of-iowa-under-the-reorganization-bill
Georgia' s attack on American Library Association https://youtu.be/_1Ld5V1A4GE?si=0694UZ_xBYyYORmw
The rising Republican movement to defund public libraries
https://www.vox.com/politics/2023/5/5/23711417/republicans-want-to-defund-public-libraries-book-bans
Thanks Ralph. These links are quite valuable. I needed to turn the piece over quickly given the rally on Monday, so I didn't get much time to do background research. This will help a great deal as I follow up. I plan to be at the capitol tomorrow, so I will probably follow up. Also, librarians are reaching out to me with more information. One thing I should have said is that this will hit small towns in rural Iowa the hardest. So wrong-headed. Thanks again.
I watched Iowa Press this past Friday night. The guest was the Republican Senate Majority Leader. The questions presented were mostly soft tosses, underhand. The responses were not always representative of all Iowans. We get the government we vote for. Obviously, Iowa is a very red state. This Senate Study Bill that Mr. Leonard is describing assaults our small rural communities. Very sad.
My mother was a grade-school librarian, taught 5th-grade social studies, and served on our community's public library board. Much of my love for books, literature, and learning was fostered by her as well as the librarian at our community's public library. And both influenced so many other kids as well over their careers.
Our kids were similarly influence by a couple of librarians at Lawrence's public library. All kids deserve to have access to that through their public libraries and public schools. I hope you're able to defeat this bill. I could easily see Kansas GOP legislators coming up with something similar.
Thanks, Marcel. I need to find the organization behind it.
Another Virginia thanks you. (I remember balancing part of my Bookmobile books on my head as I walked home with my arms full as well!!)
I remember the friendly bookmobile man always having some selections for me that he thought I might like. I always did. I still remember his smile when he saw me waiting patiently in line as he arrived.
Thank you for the piece, Bob, about an issue close to my heart. I'm glad you quoted Bradbury, and avoided the the term "culture war"—for we are in Fahrenheit 451 territory here, not "culture war" territory. (The NY Times employed that thoughtless catch phrase yesterday, in a badly reported piece they ran on red state attacks on libraries, which mentioned Pella.)
What I never see mentioned in reporting: claims of "porn/obscenity" is code for LGBTQ authors; and claims of content that is "unpatriotic" or "upsetting to kids" is code for books by writers of color. They're not just banning books, they're banning people.
As an addition to your Step 5 (contact your representative), may I also suggest: tell that representative you are a single-issue voter with regard to keeping libraries free and independent. (It's also safe to assume that any politician who is anti-library, will be in favor of all kinds of "crazy legislation.")
Thanks Diana. I've tried to avoid saying culture war since our interview. I'll remember your middle paragraph above for the next piece I write about it and give you credit. thanks again, bob
My "Red State Library Tour" feature will appear soon (albeit abridged) in a major newspaper.
I have fond memories from when I was little, rampaging (politely) through the library during the summer. The library had books for every step of my growth, be it dinosaur books or Spider-Man comics or 1800s novels. I am appalled to think of a community losing their library after all the knowledge and entertainment mine has provided me.
Our legislators have gone after the rights of my LGBTQ+ friends. They’ve gone after my female friends’ right to body autonomy. They’ve gone after my right to a good public education. They’ve gone after our collective right to vote. They can keep their filthy paws off my library.
Well put. I look forward to your next piece.
Sad but wonderful piece you have written. Thank you. Yes, I have shared, urging others to share and take action.
Will there no longer be ANY free, safe, and friendly physical place left for Iowans to share ideas?
Apparently if they eliminate enough taxes and then cut services to the bone, they figure no more ideas will be needed….