Fremont County Library Board approves amended motion removing ALA language from policies, handbooks, etc.

(Lander, WY) – The Fremont County Library Board is moving forward with the process of potentially removing all American Library Association references from Fremont County Library System bylaws, policies, handbooks, strategic plans, promotions, posters, and other documents.

Board Member Marta Mossburg proposed the move last month, making a motion to “eliminate all references to the American Library Association and any material quoted from the ALA from our bylaws, policies, handbook, and strategic plan, and all other library documents, including public promotions and posters, as its mission, priority, and values contradict the U.S. Constitution, Wyoming State Statutes, and Fremont County community standards.”

She amended the motion last week at the direction of Fremont County Commission Attorney Nathan Maxon, who recommended removing the phrase referencing the U.S. Constitution, Wyoming State Statutes, and Fremont County community standards.

That phrase represented an “unsupported legal conclusion,” Maxon said in an email that Board Chair Kristen McClelland read aloud during the Oct. 4 board meeting.

4-1 vote

The library board approved the amended motion 4-1 last week, with Board Member Perry Cook again voting “no,” this time citing “an overwhelming response from the community – both in person as well as (via) emails – that they are against removing the ALA from the library system.”

“To me, (it’s) appalling that this board is not receptive to the community and to what the community is expressing, and it just makes me very sad,” Cook said. “I will be voting, as you can expect, against this, because it’s against what our community wishes.”

Earlier in the meeting, 17 letters from community members were read into the public record, including two that were in favor of removing the ALA language and 15 that were opposed to the move. 

In addition, 15 people offered in-person public comments about the issue during last week’s meeting – including three who were in favor of removing the ALA language and 12 who opposed the move. 

But Mossburg pointed out that more people are likely to express opinions on the topic over the course of the official 45-day public comment period that’s required for proposed policy changes.

“We haven’t even had the start of our 45-day comment period yet,” she said. “So this (turnout) is representative of today – I don’t know that it’s representative of the community.”

When it opens, Library Director Anita Marple said she will post information about the public comment period on the FCLS website and in local media outlets.

World Library Association

Marple also suggested that Mossburg recuse herself from voting on the ALA issue moving forward, due to Mossburg’s involvement with the World Library Association.

“You have a total right to be part of this organization, but there does need to be transparency,” Marple said. “I want you to avoid a conflict of interest, so really, you should recuse yourself from this vote.” 

Mossburg objected to the idea, however, noting that she gets “no financial benefit and no personal benefit from being part of this (board) or the WLA.”

“I don’t understand how there’s a conflict of interest,” she said. “You just don’t happen to agree with my point of view, so that’s why you think I should recuse myself. (But) I have every right to think and associate with groups that I want to.”

Cook agreed with the assertion that “everyone has the right to associate with whomever they want” – but she also expressed concern about “the appearance of conflict of interest” in this case.

“When you’re … part of a competing organization and you’re voting against (the ALA), it looks like a conflict of interest,” Cook said. “Whether it is or not, I don’t know – but the appearance (of a) conflict of interest is pretty bad.”

The next library board meeting will take place at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Riverton Branch Library, 1330 W. Park Ave.

For more information, contact the FCLS.