Board members read through the current library collection development policy during a public meeting Thursday at the Campbell County Public Library in Gillette. The board discussed potential changes to the policy to prevent books with obscene content from reaching the hands of children and teens.
Library board chair Sage Bear speaks to other board members as they read through the library’s current collection policy during a public meeting Thursday at the Campbell County Public Library in Gillette. Bear proposed adding language to the policy to prohibit obscene materials from being added to the library.
Library director Terri Lesley responds to library board members as they discuss the library’s current collection development policy during a public meeting Thursday at the Campbell County Public Library in Gillette.
Library board member Charlie Anderson speaks as he and other board members discuss the library’s current collection development policy during a public meeting Thursday at the Campbell County Public Library in Gillette. Anderson warned against the proposed changes to the library policy, saying the board would run the risk of walking into a “First Amendment minefield.”
Library board member Charles Butler listens as he and other board members discuss the library’s current collection development policy during a public meeting Thursday at the Campbell County Public Library in Gillette.
Library board member Darcie Lyon listens as she and other board members discuss the library’s current collection development policy during a public meeting Thursday at the Campbell County Public Library in Gillette.
Board members read through the current library collection development policy during a public meeting Thursday at the Campbell County Public Library in Gillette. The board discussed potential changes to the policy to prevent books with obscene content from reaching the hands of children and teens.
It turns out that if the Campbell County Public Library Board wants to keep obscene materials off of the shelves by changing the library’s collection development policy, it’s going to need a lot more than two hours to get it done.
The board had a workshop Thursday afternoon, going through the policy page by page, making it to page 60 — the whole policy is 103 pages — before calling it a night. Library Director Terri Lesley sat with the board, answering the technical questions the board had about the policy.
Library board chair Sage Bear speaks to other board members as they read through the library’s current collection policy during a public meeting Thursday at the Campbell County Public Library in Gillette. Bear proposed adding language to the policy to prohibit obscene materials from being added to the library.
Library board member Charlie Anderson speaks as he and other board members discuss the library’s current collection development policy during a public meeting Thursday at the Campbell County Public Library in Gillette. Anderson warned against the proposed changes to the library policy, saying the board would run the risk of walking into a “First Amendment minefield.”
Library board member Darcie Lyon listens as she and other board members discuss the library’s current collection development policy during a public meeting Thursday at the Campbell County Public Library in Gillette.
Library board member Charles Butler listens as he and other board members discuss the library’s current collection development policy during a public meeting Thursday at the Campbell County Public Library in Gillette.
Library director Terri Lesley responds to library board members as they discuss the library’s current collection development policy during a public meeting Thursday at the Campbell County Public Library in Gillette.
I could say something really terrible about what is going on here but what I will say is that it must be really sad to believe that the youth are seeking sex books in the library and only reading them to be titillated by the content. It is really sad to see that there are people who believe that librarians are focused on buying and pushing the so called pornographic books on the youth. Looking back on the day when my kids were growing up in Gillette if a librarian had that motive I would have heard about it. It didn't happen then and it isn't now. The real issues here is not pornography in the library that doesn't exist..we know it everyone knows it. The issue is providing all people with access to information that expands their ability to think critically and push back on those who expect us all to think and act like them. The issue is not with the ALA promoting a lifestyle but with an ALA that accepts and promotes a diversity in a library collection to meet the needs of all patrons.
Do you think that when the MassResisters open their bibles and read Matthew 23:27: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.”; that they realize it’s about them? Nah, never mind, that’s probably not going to happen since they spend all their time patting themselves on the back in the MassResistance virtual reality.
Wonder why so many groomers are arguing for child 90Rn to stay in the library and are not called out. Boycott groomers.
Reminds me of the fire chief in Gillette who molested boys for years under the obtuse nose of chapmblain, a Vineyard pastor. People were more worried about the abuser being caught than the children's lives.
Thank God Bear and Butcher are at the helm. The years of neglect and abuse of our public library as a can be stopped. Finally. Perhaps now we'll have a "safe" facility and not a blue collection.
What abuse in the past years has happen at the library ? It’s always been a safe place for kids . And they do a great service for the citizens of Campbell County .
How about this. Put the controversial books in a separate section that has a sign-18 years or older unless accompanied by a Parent. Put some of the responsibility on the Parents. Like Mike Enzi used to say - 80% can be agreed to the other 20% let go of.
Ok, ronroy, how about his...you put the books in a separate section that requires a parent to come in and check it out. A fifteen-year-old boy has questions about the sexual feelings he is starting to have but isn't comfortable going to his parents and talking to them for whatever reason, so he just buries those feelings because he doesn't have access to any books that might help him understand. Then when he turns sixteen or so he thinks that because everyone around him won't love him for who he is, he commits suicide. You want to explain to his parents that their son is dead because he didn't pray hard enough?
Bear and her group are going to have a lawsuit at their hands for violating the First Amendment. She has no understanding of legal matters. When attorneys state there are problems with what she is doing, and she willingly ignores it, that invites a whole myriad of problems. For those of you who keep calling people "groomers" and "pedophiles" without actual evidence, please realize that is slander. If you try to destroy a person's reputation will baseless lies, you can be sued.
Add to that in some cases legal action is being taking regarding the banning of books on the basis of discrimination. I call on the library board to ask themselves if this is all really worth it.
Sage Bear makes a comment defining obscenity as material that "is offensive to the average adult, applying contemporary community standards with respect to what is suitable for minors". A statement like that needs to define what an "average adult" happens to be. Do some fact checking and you will find out only 26% of adults attend church regularly, about 40% are parents, and only 50% are married. Look it up, if you don't believe me. This group of self proclaimed righteous citizens are not what our nation considers "average"... they are a select minority who appear to have a need to force their agenda on to the rest of us.
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(16) comments
I could say something really terrible about what is going on here but what I will say is that it must be really sad to believe that the youth are seeking sex books in the library and only reading them to be titillated by the content. It is really sad to see that there are people who believe that librarians are focused on buying and pushing the so called pornographic books on the youth. Looking back on the day when my kids were growing up in Gillette if a librarian had that motive I would have heard about it. It didn't happen then and it isn't now. The real issues here is not pornography in the library that doesn't exist..we know it everyone knows it. The issue is providing all people with access to information that expands their ability to think critically and push back on those who expect us all to think and act like them. The issue is not with the ALA promoting a lifestyle but with an ALA that accepts and promotes a diversity in a library collection to meet the needs of all patrons.
And now for something suitably terrible….
Do you think that when the MassResisters open their bibles and read Matthew 23:27: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.”; that they realize it’s about them? Nah, never mind, that’s probably not going to happen since they spend all their time patting themselves on the back in the MassResistance virtual reality.
Wonder why so many groomers are arguing for child 90Rn to stay in the library and are not called out. Boycott groomers.
Reminds me of the fire chief in Gillette who molested boys for years under the obtuse nose of chapmblain, a Vineyard pastor. People were more worried about the abuser being caught than the children's lives.
Thank God Bear and Butcher are at the helm. The years of neglect and abuse of our public library as a can be stopped. Finally. Perhaps now we'll have a "safe" facility and not a blue collection.
What abuse in the past years has happen at the library ? It’s always been a safe place for kids . And they do a great service for the citizens of Campbell County .
In a state that values freedom and independence, it’s unconscionable that local leaders are asking our community to compromise on the First Amendment.
How about this. Put the controversial books in a separate section that has a sign-18 years or older unless accompanied by a Parent. Put some of the responsibility on the Parents. Like Mike Enzi used to say - 80% can be agreed to the other 20% let go of.
Ok, ronroy, how about his...you put the books in a separate section that requires a parent to come in and check it out. A fifteen-year-old boy has questions about the sexual feelings he is starting to have but isn't comfortable going to his parents and talking to them for whatever reason, so he just buries those feelings because he doesn't have access to any books that might help him understand. Then when he turns sixteen or so he thinks that because everyone around him won't love him for who he is, he commits suicide. You want to explain to his parents that their son is dead because he didn't pray hard enough?
Whiteantelope...get a life!
Got one and you are not in charge of it.
This seems odd ...
Yeah. It’s a misfire. Thought Whiteantelope told Ka12 to “get a life!” and totally lost control. Won’t let the pale goat trigger me from now on.
Bear and her group are going to have a lawsuit at their hands for violating the First Amendment. She has no understanding of legal matters. When attorneys state there are problems with what she is doing, and she willingly ignores it, that invites a whole myriad of problems. For those of you who keep calling people "groomers" and "pedophiles" without actual evidence, please realize that is slander. If you try to destroy a person's reputation will baseless lies, you can be sued.
Add to that in some cases legal action is being taking regarding the banning of books on the basis of discrimination. I call on the library board to ask themselves if this is all really worth it.
Get these self-serving god botherers off the library board and out of government.
Sage Bear makes a comment defining obscenity as material that "is offensive to the average adult, applying contemporary community standards with respect to what is suitable for minors". A statement like that needs to define what an "average adult" happens to be. Do some fact checking and you will find out only 26% of adults attend church regularly, about 40% are parents, and only 50% are married. Look it up, if you don't believe me. This group of self proclaimed righteous citizens are not what our nation considers "average"... they are a select minority who appear to have a need to force their agenda on to the rest of us.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.