Republicans Are Threatening Public Libraries AGAIN
The Issue
SF2432 is an Act eliminating a city’s ability to create a city board of health or a city health department, and including effective date provisions.
The bill is eligible for debate in the Iowa House. Our concern is an amendment filed by Rep. Skyler Wheeler that would add language from an anti-public library bill (HF2622), which died in the second funnel.
If accepted, the amendment would mandate several actions including policies related to “age appropriate” access to materials for minors to receive state assistance and allowing parents to access and monitor their child’s borrowing activity. Libraries will be required to review all books and materials to ensure they are “age appropriate” and must submit an annual report to the state providing proof of their policies. Of grave concern is the amendment moves administrative, financial, oversight, and policy authority from the local city library board of trustees to the governing body of the jurisdiction in which the library is located (e.g. city council). Finally, the amendment removes accreditation standards from the American Library Association and Iowa Library Association as a requirement for public libraries.
What You Can Do
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Please contact your State Representative and urge them to oppose the Wheeler amendment. You can email them or contact them by phone at (515) 281-3221.
- Attend the League of Women Voters' Candidate forum on Saturday, March 28, and make your thoughts known directly to your representatives. The forum is from 10:00 to 11:30 at the Sioux City Public Museum, and you can find more information here.
Thanks to the Interfaith Alliance for providing information for this Call to Action.