State Library Association recognizes NUP for role in library issue

SPOKANE–The Neighbors United for Progress (NUP) a local political action committee, has been awarded the Candace Morgan Intellectual Freedom Award for 2024 by the Washington Library Association (WLA). Elise Severe, NUP President, accepted the award on behalf of the group, during the WLA's annual Conference Awards Reception in the Spokane Convention Center March 2.

"We would like to take a moment to recognize and honor the namesake of the Candace Morgan Intellectual Freedom Award who passed away earlier this year," said Gavin Downing during the 2024 WLA Conference Merit Awards luncheon. "Candy was a force in the library community, both locally and the national level. She came to Oregon in 1977 and worked at the State Library and ended her career at FVRLibraries - Fort Vancouver Regional Library District with her retirement in 2004. She then took on the role of educator and taught for many years in the Emporia SLIM program.

"She actively worked on intellectual freedom and first amendment issues with ALA and the Freedom to Read Foundation," Downing said.

"WLA is proud to present Neighbors United for Progress with the Candace Morgan Award for Intellectual Freedom," Downing continued. "Nominated by Sara Jones, Neighbors United for Progress was formed by a group of local citizens in Dayton, Washington. Chaired by Elise Severe, this organization filed a lawsuit and led grassroots efforts that saved the Columbia County Rural Library District from dissolution. Washington's Constitution guarantees "free and equal" elections. This means eligible voters whose tax and property interests are affected by a vote must have their voices heard. It meant county residents and library patrons could lose the use and enjoyment of the library and its services and only a portion of the taxpayers contributing to the rural library district would have a say."

"It takes hard work, dedicated citizens, and smart government to keep a small town from deteriorating," Severe said in accepting the award. "Our town's success rests on the idea of people working together instead of taking an all-or-nothing approach. This is not a Republican or Democrat issue; this is an Everyone issue." Columbia County Superior Court's decision stopped Proposition 2 from appearing on the ballot. "Proposition 2 was never about which books are on the shelves. It was about power–the power to control information and the power to silence others. When public resources like these are taken away, people of color, LGBTQ+ communities, and those living on low incomes are often the most affected. The closure would have also been the first in the nation shuttered by efforts under the guise of "parental rights." It would have marked a dangerous precedent for public libraries across the United States."