First and foremost, I want to affirm that Timberland Regional Library will always be a place for our LGBTQIA+ and unhoused community members. Just as we are a place for all members of our communities. They will be welcomed in our spaces and will find reflections of their lives in our collections. They are our friends, neighbors, co-workers, and loved ones. Their stories belong in the library.
TRL’s position is rooted in the foundation of public libraries, intellectual freedom, the Board-adopted ALA Bill of Rights, the 1st Amendment, and our Vision, Mission, and Values.
This means:
Our library exists to provide materials, information, and programming for all members of our community. Our library presents points of view that reflect a variety of ideas, information, stories, and experiences. Library resources help readers learn about the cultures, perspectives, and experiences of a variety of people – as well as their own. TRL’s values statement, developed with our communities, emphasizes: “Supporting diverse communities, perspectives, and ideas.”
Every individual has the right to make their own decisions about what they read and believe, regardless of the content or viewpoint. We’re not always going to agree with everyone’s reading choices – politically, socially, or morally. Library materials are for personal selection; they are not required reading.
Our librarians are trained to develop our collection and reconsideration policies. These include such criteria as authenticity, demand, interest, content, and usage. For young readers, librarians consider age, social and emotional development, reading level, and interest. Our library also has a reconsideration procedure to ensure formal complaints are handled in a responsive and consistent manner.
Parents have the right to guide their children’s reading but not to make decisions for other parents’ children. Public library staff do not operate in the place of parents. We rely on parents and guardians to guide their children’s use of the library, whether that means reviewing themselves what their children want to check out, consulting with librarians on finding appropriate books, or deciding whether to participate or not in programs we offer.
Books are tools for understanding complex issues. Limiting young people's access to books does not protect them from life's complex and challenging issues. Specifically limiting or segregating resources for our LGBTQIA+ patrons, young and old, not only unfairly decreases their access to needed resources, but it also actively increases adverse life outcomes and harms them. Libraries are literal lifesaving places of respite for these people, not just places for quiet study.
Our goal is to provide a safe space to explore those ideas and questions for all members of our communities in the manner individuals and families choose. The library as a safe space means people can freely choose for themselves, without interference from others, what they want to explore.
As we near America’s 250th anniversary, I can think of no better way to celebrate than to exercise our rights and support the freedom to read for all. This freedom requires from us that we live and converse through things that challenge us. I believe this concept is what actually unites us. This makes us a strong country. This is distinctly American - the opportunity to not shy away from things that challenge our own world view and values, but to actively engage in conversation.
Where Trustee Mittge sees division, I see the opportunity. Opportunity for acknowledging the humanity in each other and for a better understanding of the world around us. Opportunity to create unity in our shared humanity.
Timberland Regional Library will continue to provide age-appropriate resources for all. We will continue to lift up the different members of our five-county rural library district. And as always, we believe that free people, read freely.
