If you actually believe it has nothing to do with controlling the content and taking that decision away from thoughtful board members and putting it in the hands of meddling partisan politicians you are the one being bamboozled, Chuck.
My name is Sam Helmick and I am the Government Affairs chair for the Iowa Library Association.
If you would like to read the ILA Executive Board statement about the three library board-adverse bills filed this week for yourself please visit: IowaLibraryAssociation.org
Like many Iowans, Iowa Library Association respects the local governance structure established through engaged, politically appointed library boards in partnership with their city councils.
We want to #KeepLibrariesLocal!
If you would like to connect to a primary source on this topic, I would be delighted to speak with you at samhelmick.library@gmail.com.
It's unfortunate that no quotes or details from the ILA statement regarding this bill, which are easily accessed, were included in this piece and no ILA leaders were asked for input. I sat in on the initial hearings, read 100s of comments from library supporters about the initial bill SSB3131 and these iterations, and logged in online for the hearing on HSB678 and heard dozens of comments against the proposed legislation and not one in favor. Comments from ILA leadership and others were about retaining board authority and the amount of work city councils will face without any training. There are already measures in place for city councils to take this to a referendum as they did in Pella (in favor of the library board) so that voters are deciding on these important matters rather than disenfranchising voters and introducing additional first amendment liabilities to cities.
Republican efforts to undermine and control our public libraries hits a nerve with me, Chuck. As the daughter of a public school librarian -- and as an English major -- I believe access to information is crucial. I also believe that reducing citizen oversight of our libraries is wrong.
With all due respect, I don't know why we would take the word of legislators who have voted for school book bans and teaching restrictions that a federal judge enjoined because their "staggeringly broad" provisions were inconsistent with the First Amendment.
Carter Nordman in particular is no friend of pluralism or intellectual freedom. He co-sponsored a bill that would shut down most DEI programs at state universities and install Republican legislators on the Iowa Board of Regents in an "ex officio" role:
If the intent with this library bill was not to give elected officials direct control over content available in libraries, the text should have made that clear. And if city administrators have genuine concerns over library management, they should have come to the subcommittee meetings or posted public comments on the legislature's website. Librarians were right to sound the alarm.
Iowa has more than 500 public libraries, most of which serve very small populations. Typically, they struggle to find board members and often settle for less than the best. Even larger municipalities sometimes find themselves settling on some odd creatures for board members. Their performance is typically poor. It's time to consolidate library services. Take advantage advances in technology, and provide Iowans with the library services to which they are entitled.
Seriously, most of the 3000+ library board members have little expertise in librarianship, human relations, or financial management. Let's take a hard look at what happening (and NOT happening) in the Iowa library environment and take the time for some thoughtful upgrades.
And, while I'm at it, do we really need 900+ municipalities? Nearly one hundred counties? More than 300 school districts? Iowans love governments. However, it's expensive and often ignores the efficiencies of scale.
If you actually believe it has nothing to do with controlling the content and taking that decision away from thoughtful board members and putting it in the hands of meddling partisan politicians you are the one being bamboozled, Chuck.
Hello, Chuck.
My name is Sam Helmick and I am the Government Affairs chair for the Iowa Library Association.
If you would like to read the ILA Executive Board statement about the three library board-adverse bills filed this week for yourself please visit: IowaLibraryAssociation.org
Like many Iowans, Iowa Library Association respects the local governance structure established through engaged, politically appointed library boards in partnership with their city councils.
We want to #KeepLibrariesLocal!
If you would like to connect to a primary source on this topic, I would be delighted to speak with you at samhelmick.library@gmail.com.
It's unfortunate that no quotes or details from the ILA statement regarding this bill, which are easily accessed, were included in this piece and no ILA leaders were asked for input. I sat in on the initial hearings, read 100s of comments from library supporters about the initial bill SSB3131 and these iterations, and logged in online for the hearing on HSB678 and heard dozens of comments against the proposed legislation and not one in favor. Comments from ILA leadership and others were about retaining board authority and the amount of work city councils will face without any training. There are already measures in place for city councils to take this to a referendum as they did in Pella (in favor of the library board) so that voters are deciding on these important matters rather than disenfranchising voters and introducing additional first amendment liabilities to cities.
Republican efforts to undermine and control our public libraries hits a nerve with me, Chuck. As the daughter of a public school librarian -- and as an English major -- I believe access to information is crucial. I also believe that reducing citizen oversight of our libraries is wrong.
Seems like a hollow complaint coming from a person who supports their party. You bought it, you own it.
Our state senator emailed my husband that the issue was indeed about the books.
With all due respect, I don't know why we would take the word of legislators who have voted for school book bans and teaching restrictions that a federal judge enjoined because their "staggeringly broad" provisions were inconsistent with the First Amendment.
Carter Nordman in particular is no friend of pluralism or intellectual freedom. He co-sponsored a bill that would shut down most DEI programs at state universities and install Republican legislators on the Iowa Board of Regents in an "ex officio" role:
https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=90&ba=hf2327
If the intent with this library bill was not to give elected officials direct control over content available in libraries, the text should have made that clear. And if city administrators have genuine concerns over library management, they should have come to the subcommittee meetings or posted public comments on the legislature's website. Librarians were right to sound the alarm.
Iowa has more than 500 public libraries, most of which serve very small populations. Typically, they struggle to find board members and often settle for less than the best. Even larger municipalities sometimes find themselves settling on some odd creatures for board members. Their performance is typically poor. It's time to consolidate library services. Take advantage advances in technology, and provide Iowans with the library services to which they are entitled.
Seriously, most of the 3000+ library board members have little expertise in librarianship, human relations, or financial management. Let's take a hard look at what happening (and NOT happening) in the Iowa library environment and take the time for some thoughtful upgrades.
And, while I'm at it, do we really need 900+ municipalities? Nearly one hundred counties? More than 300 school districts? Iowans love governments. However, it's expensive and often ignores the efficiencies of scale.