Librarians and the Public Push Back Against Proposed Legislation
And proof why public libraries need independent boards...
Iowa Public Librarians and library board members gathered at the Iowa Capitol on Monday to share their strong opposition to Senate Study Bill 3131 introduced by local government chairperson, Republican State Senator Jesse Green from Harcourt in Boone County. Green has also been part of the push to ban selected books from public schools in Iowa. A summary is at the Iowa Starting Line.
I wrote about it Sunday in Iowa Republican Legislators are Coming for Our Public Libraries. I wanted to get the story out quickly as I learned on Saturday that there was a scheduled hearing on the bill for Monday afternoon, and I had only seen one media report on it.
The changes proposed in the bill were simple but devastating—it would change the phrase of existing law from “shall levy a tax of…” to “may levy a tax of…” with funds to be used for libraries.
The optional tax would damage if not destroy many of our smaller libraries, especially those in rural communities.
The bill also allows a city to remove the power of an independent library board, potentially giving control to local municipalities, and likely making funding and the operation of the library a political football.
I learned Monday morning that the hearing had been canceled, but that librarians were still going to Des Moines to speak with legislators, so I decided to join them. I’m not sure why the hearing was canceled but Trish Nelson writing in Blog for Iowa reports that one of her legislators told her Senator Green pulled the bill, but it may return in an altered form. In looking at support and opposition for the bill, the only entity in support of the bill was Americans for Prosperity, a libertarian Koch-funded group that is pro-large business and often against the common good. Public comments have been overwhelmingly against the bill.
Nelson’s conclusions make sense, as Green (center in the photo above) told the librarians that he was dropping the taxation part of the bill, but needed to contemplate the independence of school boards, given concerns expressed in his district.
What concerns? I thought to myself.
Ralph Rosenberg reminds me that Republicans started their assault on libraries in Iowa last year and that there is a rising Republican movement to defund public libraries nationwide.
Yet, the way Green mentioned his district made me wonder if there was something additional going on independent of these other efforts.
So I did some calling around Green’s district. I asked people I knew and others in public positions if they had any idea what the local issue was that might have initiated Green’s proposed legislation, and I received some interesting answers.
I am being purposely vague here because some people I spoke with are in vulnerable positions. Turns out that one community in Green’s district had to cut budgets city-wide a few years ago, including the library. The library board and members of the community reportedly pushed back against the proposed library cuts. There was also an effort to convert part of the library into a commercial space (there are media reports that confirm these budget cuts and the proposal regarding commercial space). The library board and members of the community pushed back. One city council member didn’t like the power the board had and expressed that sentiment publicly. That council member then lost their next election. After she/he lost the election, the then-mayor appointed that same former city council member to the library board. The mayor at that time also appointed additional members to the board, some of whom weren’t regular library patrons/had never been in the library before. There was conflict.
For some reason I don’t know these new appointees later resigned.
This story is the reason why we need independent library boards. A disgruntled former city council member who the citizens of the community had voted out of power politicized and undermined the board and the library. And now some Republicans want to dismantle the power of independent boards statewide, which is precisely why the legislature shouldn’t.
These kinds of legislation Republicans are introducing are radical and we need to say so.
Green should pull the bill in its entirety. He was polite and respectful of the librarians and said he was willing to learn. The librarians were articulate, and passionate, and conveyed their message well. In general, I’ve found that librarians and teachers tend to be the smartest, most educated, and most passionate people in the room, and so I listen to them. Green should too. Pull the bill and don’t bring it back.
Sour grapes make poor public policy. Leave our libraries alone.
Des Moines – The Iowa Library Association released the following statement on Monday regarding Senate Study Bill 3131:
“ILA appreciates the time library board members and Senator Green gave today to discuss SSB 3131. It is a relief to learn that Senator Green plans to remove the title and levy portions of the bill, which would result in the closure of small and rural libraries across the state,” Iowa Library Association Past President and Government Affairs Chair Sam Helmick said.
“However, the remaining piece of the bill forces a discussion on more than 500 public library communities that can already take place through local referendums. SSB 3131 would still silence voters’ voices on library governance, removing local control and community input that is already in place,” said Helmick.
“We look forward to continuing the conversation with legislators as we advocate for libraries together,” Helmick said.
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Their attempt to control what people can learn through libraries just serves to highlight how little a certain group knows about how libraries function. Apparently they do not care they will be cutting off access to many things modern libraries do besides allowing people to check out books. Thanks Bob, for reminding us of another scheme in which they attempt to "lord it over us peasants".
I bet you have a hunch about the disgruntled council member! Thanks for the heads up. We need to be vigilant these days. I agree the smartest people in the room are usually librarians & teachers.