The pretense of community standards

This invites comparison to the well covered local support from and affiliation with the Massachusetts based MassResistance, a “leading pro-family activist organization.” The local “grassroots” organization, Wyoming MassResistance claims independence from the national organization but appears to be in ideological lockstep. In support of the Wyoming group, Arthur Schaper of the national MassResistance was moved to write a letter, in which he called local citizens slanderous and shameful. He also participated in a softball interview on a local radio station. Campbell County is featured prominently on the national website. If the locals are truly independent, at least they could change their name. It appears that our much touted “community standards” are drafted in Massachusetts and Florida.

A “community standard” is impossible to define and would be counter to the purpose of the library. Over the last 20 months, the library board has received dozens of hours of testimony. I hope that the library board has learned that there are strongly held positions and that this community is diverse. If the library board listened to input that does not fit their preconceived agenda, they would understand that the lowest common denominator is not what the library is about. The library is about serving as many citizens as possible.

It seems that the past testimony relates to an infinitesimally small percentage of the library collection. The policy as proposed substantially broadens the items to be questioned. The library board as it is now constituted has the power to adopt the draft collection policy. They cannot after all the discussion, do it under the pretense that they are reflecting a “community standard,” or more importantly that they are supporting the mission of our library.

Dave Ebertz

Gillette