By HOLLY GASKILL
The Wells County Public Library is considering leaving the American Library Association following a series of association changes.
In a quarterly update to the county council, Director Sarah MacNiell said the library has temporarily delayed renewing its membership with the ALA. MacNeill pulled the item from their upcoming financial claims and asked to have it join the discussion items for their regular board meeting Sept. 12.
The ALA is a nonprofit organization that lobbies on behalf of library funding, as well as promoting libraries and the development of library resources. Recently, however, the ALA has come under criticism for its defense of disputed books under book bans, many of which carry LGBTQ and racial themes.
Additional pressure followed after the association named Emily Drabinski its president in April. Drabinski has stood against book bans and publicly supports leftist ideas, including self-identifying as a “Marxist lesbian” in a tweet last year. This tweet became a specific talking point of the state libraries in Montana and Texas, who ultimately withdrew from the association.
“It’s disheartening that they have appointed somebody that is using her position to push political agendas and that ALA is pushing political agendas,” MacNiell told the council.
Council member Brandon Harnish had brought the item to the discussion, expressing his frustration with the reported political agenda of the association. He then asked MacNiell to suspend the county’s membership with the ALA.
MacNeill replied that the library board plans to take the matter under advisement. The library pays an annual $600 membership fee, but MacNiell stated the library does not otherwise regularly engage with ALA conferences and training. She emphasized that the ALA’s activity does not affect the Wells County Public Library’s operations at a local level.
“This isn’t exactly celebrating the First Amendment in neutrality, which is what libraries are supposed to be about,” MacNiell said. “So, that’s definitely a topic we’ve been looking at and are considering.”
Should the board decide to leave, MacNiell noted the library would still be a member of the Indiana Library Federation, which also advocates for funding with legislators.
The board will meet at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 12 at the library.
Also during their quarterly report, board member Dustin Brown highlighted the growing circulation within the library. At the end of June, the library had met 56 percent of last year’s numbers for circulation. The reading program likewise saw a 12 percent increase in registrations.
The library will also host its bi-annual Children’s Book Festival on Oct. 7. The festival’s featured author is Shannon Anderson, an award-winning children’s book author, educator and Indiana native. Anderson’s recent book, “I Love Strawberries”, was named the top-rated picture book by Good Housekeeping and national book of the year by the Farm Bureau Foundation.
Leading up to the event, the library will also bring Anderson to the elementary schools for presentations and book giveaways.
Jill Gill will also return as music entertainment for the festival, and the library will host various carnival games and activities.
The event is made possible through private donations, the Wells County Foundation and the Friends of the Library.
holly@news-banner.com
