Attention Walmart shoppers! Those of you who signed the petition list of over 200 signatures several months ago requesting that the Marshalltown Public Library display The Epoch Times and The American Rifleman are entitled to follow up information. The petition list did not make a board meeting agenda. The petition stated, “Want displayed with” instead of “want to read” and identified as part of the reason for rejection. Additionally, Board President Gaffney singled out your participation as without merit based on the retail location at which you signed it. Board members Lyons, Bennett, Lindholm, Hall, Beek and Morrison, to their credit, did not call petitioners, as requested by Gaffney, but did not offer support for the patron petitioners either. The Trustee Handbook states that trustees are “public servants” and “represent the community in the library.” Instead, Marshall County trustee rep Lindholm states that “I am an advocate in the community for the library.” By all appearances to date, the condescending attitude is shared by all the trustees. Attend the May 19 board meeting and watch the community representatives flee the boardroom immediately after the meeting closes, without acknowledging an invitation extended at comment time, to remain and discuss issues with patrons. They don’t want to be reminded of policy deviation and newly created punitive policy (April 2023).

Community representatives (Trustees), have you been instructed not to engage patrons by Director Rosenblum or Mayor Greer, or an attorney? If Rosenblum, you have the authority and duty to fire her. Otherwise, you are derelict in your duties.

Editor, ask Director Rosenblum or President Gaffney to write an op-ed justifying in detail why, with the help of staff attorneys at the ALA, ILA and State Library, MPL has flipped library autonomy intended to protect libraries from politicization to protecting politicization brought to MPL by individuals anointed by Mayor Greer and councilors. Autonomy should be stripped from libraries. Abusers don’t deserve it and the rest don’t need it.

Patrons, do you know that you have no official way to challenge library accreditation? Libraries have become the untouchable sacred cows of America. At the current trajectory, scrutiny of libraries will only intensify. Library associations are prepared though. Instead of elevating all things “community” they employ staff attorneys. Let that sink in. Library associations, including the State Library, employing staff attorneys.