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Dear Fremont County Library System Board Members,
I am AGAINST your proposed removal of any references to the ALA in the Fremont County Public Library System’s (FCLS) documentation. Shame on you for proposing this! This is an unjustified overreach of your defined authority and a threat to our public libraries. The Board’s responsibility is to support the FCLS, NOT micromanage it!. Stop forcing your individual ideologies and biases on library patrons. Quit dismantling trusted professional standards that have guided libraries across the country for decades!
By proposing this change, you show your lack of knowledge on what is good for libraries. The ALA provides nonpartisan, foundational principles which help protect every citizen’s right to access information free from censorship and political interference. Stop using ideological misinformation, misconstrued beliefs, and soundbites as your guide!
Let me highlight a couple of key benefits of the ALA that you would find if you had done some research:
● The Library Bill of Rights — This defends access to information for all people, regardless of background, viewpoint, or identity.
● The Freedom to Read Statement — This is a powerful commitment to resisting censorship and supporting every individual’s right to choose what they read.
● Resources for Libraries — This includes legal guidance, professional development, grant opportunities, policy templates, and intellectual freedom support.
● Support for Challenged Materials — When communities or boards try to suppress access to certain books or authors, the ALA provides tools and legal expertise to help libraries stand firm.
This change could have very real consequences for everyday library patrons.
● Fewer Books, Narrower Choices – Without ALA guidelines, there’s a risk that books could be removed based on individuals’ personal or political beliefs — not professional standards. That means less variety and limited access to stories that reflect different backgrounds, ideas, and experiences.
● More Censorship, Less Trust – ALA policies help ensure that no one group’s values dominate what materials are available. Without this, board members or outside activists could begin pressuring the library to remove books or cancel programs they disagree with — even if the community values them.
● Undermining Parental Rights – Libraries support parents’ rights to guide their own children’s reading. But when library policy is shaped by ideologically driven decisions, it strips choice away from families — allowing someone else’s judgment about what is “appropriate” for you.
● Less Professional Autonomy for Librarians – Librarians are trained professionals. ALA principles protect their ability to serve the public fairly and professionally. Removing those protections opens the door to political interference in everyday library operations.
● A Library That No Longer Serves Everyone – The ALA’s values are rooted in inclusion and access. Without that foundation, we risk turning our public libraries into places that only reflect the views of the loudest or most powerful voices, rather than welcoming everyone equally.
This proposal represents a concerning precedent, and I urge you to uphold the principles of professionalism, neutrality, and intellectual freedom that the ALA embodies. History shows that censorship often begins with quiet, incremental policy changes—changes that appear minor but ultimately pave the way for broader control and political interference. Libraries have long served as pillars of intellectual freedom: spaces that welcome, educate, and empower individuals from all walks of life.
The FCLS is not the personal platform of the Board. It exists to serve our ENTIRE community, regardless of background, beliefs, or identity.
Submitted by:
Brian Wright