T-R FILE PHOTO Marshalltown Public Library Director Sarah Rosenblum, pictured in October of 2023, has expressed deep concern about bills in the Iowa House and Senate that would give city councils more direct control over the operations of libraries.

Iowa legislators have placed a focus on public libraries recently.

House Study Bill 678 (HSB678) was introduced on Wednesday, and the Local Government subcommittee recommended passage. The bill pertains to the hiring of library directors and utilizing funds for policies. It would allow a city council to hire the director and determine whether or not funds will be used for certain projects or initiatives.

Marshalltown Public Library Director Sarah Rosenblum is concerned about the legislation and just after Senate Study Bill 3131 (SSB3131), which would have given city governments the option to defund public libraries and eliminate library boards, was tabled for the time being. The following day, HSB678 appeared in the House.

“It was a surprise,” Rosenblum said. “3131 is not moving forward, but I turned around and this bill was in the House.”

She traveled to Des Moines to speak at the Local Government subcommittee meeting, along with 14 others, and recommended HSB678 not move forward. Rosenblum wondered if the focus on libraries through HSB678 and SSB3131 is a result of the Pella Public Library happenings.

The Pella controversy began in 2021 when a group of residents objected to books such as “Gender Queer” having placement on the library shelves. After the library board refused to remove the book, the residents brought the matter to a vote of the citizens to give control of the library to the city council. In November 2023, voters wanted control to stay with the library board.

“There is a war on libraries,” Rosenblum said. “I am very concerned for all libraries.”

The concern does extend to Marshalltown, even though she sees the public library as a gem. To showcase the popularity, in the last year, she said more than 10,000 items were checked out by local youth.

“That is so gratifying,” Rosenblum said. “I know people are concerned about [decreased reading in children] in this country. When we have that many items, it is phenomenal.”

With so many patrons utilizing the Marshalltown Public Library for a variety of reasons — reading, learning, meetings, filling out job applications and more — she hates to see the library service jeopardized.

“We have an outstanding library,” Rosenblum said. “We stand toe-to-toe with larger libraries. The staff do a lot of hard work. This is really a dark time for libraries, and is very frustrating for us. We only want the best for our community and little ones. If someone does not like a book on a shelf, talk to us, don’t force us.”

Mayor Joel Greer agreed with Rosenblum on the exceptional quality and importance of the Marshalltown Public Library.

“We have a national award winning library,” he said.

Greer does not see how HSB678 could be useful.

“We don’t interfere with our boards,” he said. “It takes a lot of pressure away from the city council and the mayor. They work autonomously, and it works well. The system is not broken.”

Rep. Carter Nordman (R-Adel) said he brought HSB678 forward because he heard a number of stories from city councilmen and city administrators in Iowa about difficulties with library boards.

“If a city believes their library board is perfect, they don’t have to touch it,” he said. “It is up to cities and is the definition of local control.”

Greer would like to see Marshalltown residents reach out to their legislators to voice opinions on the library bills, and any other bills.

“Let them know what they are doing — book banning, abortions, gun control, school vouchers — it’s run wild,” he said. “Iowa needs to go back to being ‘Iowa Nice’ and normal.”

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.