BOCC hears concerns over children's library materials

DAYTON-The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) held a work session on August 22 which began with a few public comments addressing concerns about materials in the County Rural Library children's section.

The Commissioners first heard from community member Theresa Eier who commented to express concern that first amendments rights of freedom of expression could be violated by the removal of materials from the library. Even though said did not attend the meeting, she claimed that at the county library board meeting on August 15, elected officials were attempting to impose their world view by requesting books be removed. "Parents and adults are arbitrators of children reading books...We teach our children to be wary of totalitarian governments. Book bans and removing books from public spaces is the first step to that."

Regular Commission meeting attendee, Dave Schreck spoke up to say that he heard this also from the librarian and agreed it is going too far.

Commissioner Charles Amerein answered that he agrees that infringing on freedom of speech and censorship is "a bad thing." He acknowledged that she is referring to the fact that he attended the library board meeting to listen in but clarified that he did not comment and made so such requests that books be removed. Nor was comment made including any request for book removal from City Council member Laura Aukerman, who was also present. He said that accusing him of this and comparing the Commission to a totalitarian regime based on incomplete facts when she was not present at the meeting to know first- hand is inflammatory. He pointed out that there is video available to view the meeting since it was a hybrid meeting.

Eier later acknowledged she did not attend the meeting, but was alerted to disturbing accusations of elected officials calling for book banning. "I wasn't there at the library meeting, but some of the people I care for were upset and told me of their concerns," said Eier. "I went directly to the Commissioners meeting with those concerns."

Eier reiterated that she approached them because she was being wary, and Amerein responded he is also wary of false accusations and has learned to investigate first before making accusations.

Seth Murdock who made comment at the library board meeting the previous week was present to deliver the books in question for the Commissioners to review over the next week and to determine if they are fitting for our community to be included in the children's library.

He then answered Eier's comment that "no one is proposing that Congress make a law infringing freedom of speech. We're just saying the library should have standards...Every library district is going to have different values reflecting their community...As far as parents go, I am responsible for my children and what they read and I'm not afraid of them reading anything in the library because that's my responsibility. But society at large is affected by what the public offers them with my tax money."

Schreck interjected to say that personal standards should not be imposed on other people. He said that those who oppose do not have to read or check out the books and that others should not be denied access to the books.

Murdock argued that standards in the library already exist by not including pornography, neo-Nazi, or sexually racy books.

Schreck added that parent's do not have to let their kids read the materials.

Amerein responded saying parents can buy those books rather than have the public pay to buy those books. He also gave a general example of the library excluding books based on standards in that the book, The Real Anthony Fauci by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr has been requested by several people including himself and has yet to be offered on the shelves of the library. He chose to buy it himself.

There was some question about who has authority on the matter, and Amerein clarified that the library board members are appointed by the Commissioners who are the elected officials so it is appropriate to bring grievances to them. He went on to point out that the books were in the children's library.

Murdock emphasized that the library has an influence on our community. He has voiced his own disapproval but suspects the community would also disapprove with content that tells children "that there is almost an original sin of 'whiteness' that surges through those books," and about "everything from outright descriptions of sex acts to encouraging them how to transition into a different sex."

Amerein offered assurance that the current Library Board is conciliatory and would consider the concerns. Commissioner Chair Marty Hall stated at the end of the discussion, "To quote one of my favorite philosophers Paul Harvey, he always said, 'self-government won't work without self-discipline.' We need to encourage more self-discipline."