arshalltown Public Library, and a former member of its Board of Trustees, I would like to respond to John Worden’s determined campaign to place two publications upon the Library’s shelves.

Like Mr. Worden, and many other patrons, I receive and read a number of magazines and news publications not available at the Library. Periodicals that I personally subscribe to have to do with particular political and/or religious views that mean much to me, but it is not the library’s task to cater to my personal interests. Service organizations, religious denominations, political lobbying groups and many other organizations have periodicals that many in our area read, but which are not, nor should they be, available at our library.

I checked out, via the internet, the two publications Mr. Worden is demanding to be placed in our library. The American Rifleman is published by The National Rifle Association, which is a very powerful lobbying group with distinct political views. Likewise, The Epoch Times is described by Wikipedia as “…a far right international multi-language newspaper affiliated with The Falun Gong New Religion movement” that lobbies particularly against Chinese interests.

Both of these periodicals can be accessed by anyone via the internet. Given the strong political/religious views they represent, the library staff and Trustees have made a wise choice to not place these publications upon its shelves.