The Library – part 1

Morale at the library feels pretty low. The librarian and staff are dedicated public servants. None of them are getting rich. Being in the spotlight and insecurity about funding is without a doubt taking its toll. Be sure to thank them the next time you’re in there, and if you’ve never been, go. It’s a great hangout.

I don’t want to see inappropriate or even controversial books in our Public Library. I’ve been called a prude before and I can accept that. But it shouldn’t be up to me or the City Council to decide which books the library holds, we have a library board and a librarian for that. The way that the system is supposed to work is that the good citizens of Fairhope elect a City Council and a Mayor whose philosophy and outlook line up more or less with that of the town, and then those officials choose a library board, whose philosophy and outlook lines up more or less with that of the town, and then the library board chooses a librarian, whose philosophy and outlook lines up more or less with that of the town, and then the librarian runs the library as he or she sees fit. And the good citizens of Fairhope can go about their business, safe in the knowledge that the wishes of most of the people are being respected most of the time… mostly.

We are where we are because that system broke down. No citizen should have to go to Montgomery to seek redress for such a local issue. The library board and the Council should not be so tone deaf that a hundred people need to crowd the chambers and yell at each other.

Which brings me to the bigger issue.

I DO NOT WANT TO SEE FAIRHOPE, ALABAMA IN THE NATIONAL NEWS.

It’s clear that some of the crusaders in this battle would be thrilled to go on Tucker Carlson or Rachel Maddow.

I wish they would just go sit in the car and let us settle our differences respectfully and quietly.

More to come…

Written by

howell

Comments

7 responses to “The Library – part 1”

  1. Susie Avatar
    Susie

    Amen!

    Reply
  2. Robelt Stuart Avatar
    Robelt Stuart

    Agree that none of us should be yelling at each other, but it seems to me that whoever went around the library board was just.looking for a fight.

    Reply
    1. howell Avatar
      howell

      We’re on the same page. I said that no citizen should have to go to Montgomery for redress, and that the crusaders on either side looking for a fight should go sit in the car.
      I appreciate the comment. Have a great week!

      Reply
  3. Kim Avatar
    Kim

    I would like to hear your position on allowing non-Fairhope residents to hijack our city council meetings. According to the mayor, this is something the council would have to vote to change. I have contacted Mr. Burrell and Mr. Martin and have never received a response. Would you support that change? I have never lived where non-voting, non-tax paying people were allowed to speak at a council meeting much less suck up almost 100% of the time allotted for public comment. Thank you in advance for your response.

    Reply
    1. howell Avatar
      howell

      Generally speaking, I’m fine with not only limiting the speakers, but also limiting the audience to locals. I want to be careful about free speech issues, but my understanding is that the Council can invite specific individuals into Executive Sessions which are closed to the general public. So, it seems to me that we could have a really big Executive Session with as many Fairhopians as would fit in the room. I’m not even sure about what there is to vote on. I don’t like the idea of restricting every meeting, and I much prefer people just minding their own business, but when out-of-towners waste everyone’s time enjoying the sound of their own voices, we have a right to do something.

      You are the first to raise this issue with me, but it’s a good question, and I promise to give it more thought. Have a great week, Kim.

      Reply
  4. Elizabeth Avatar
    Elizabeth

    Thank you for pointing out what most of us know to be true: That our librarians are humble public servants just doing their job. You say, “No citizen should have to go to Montgomery to seek redress for such a local issue.” I think I agree with the sentiment, though I take issue with the wording. No one ever HAD to go to Montgomery to demand our library’s funding be held hostage. That was a choice made by one citizen, a recent transplant and local leader of a national book-banning group, because she didn’t like the outcome of the standard local reconsideration process, and she knew she would find a sympathetic ear with the highly politicized state library board, which is currently stacked with known associates of her group. The APLS board in Montgomery has no governing authority over local libraries. It sets the rules for state aid and then distributes those funds to libraries that meet its requirements. Fairhope’s policies were approved by APLS last fall, and they continue to follow those APLS-approved policies. The APLS board has zero authority to dictate the details of local library policy, the placement of individual titles, or how the reconsideration process is carried out on the local level. This is indeed a local matter, and the local library board is doing its job by following state and local policy regarding book challenges and collection development. They should be applauded for their courage in staying the course — not labeled “tone deaf” for failing to prioritize the demands of a few loud voices over the their duty to uphold due process, the First Amendment, and the Library Bill of Rights. They have done everything by the book, and they overwhelmingly enjoy the support of the community. I applaud them.

    Reply
    1. howell Avatar
      howell

      Good morning. Thank you for taking the time to comment. I really do appreciate hearing from everyone, especially on this issue. My next post about the Library will go up on Friday morning, and I will clarify what I wrote about citizens going to Montgomery. For what it’s worth, I know very little about the Comstockers, and wish I knew even less. Even if that line in my post had been intended to be a secret nod of approval to one side, which it wasn’t, it didn’t work. No one has called or written to thank me.
      I have at least three more posts in mind about the Library, and everyone will have plenty of time to read them and consider my position before Election Day. Thank you again, and thank you for caring enough about Fairhope to speak out.

      Reply

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