SPOKANE, Wash. – The Liberty Lake City Council passed an ordinance Tuesday that gives the Council control over The Liberty Lake Library Board. The ordinance was passed by a vote of 5 to 2.
This ordinance has been met with support and opposition.
Some fear this ordinance will lead to book bans. Others think it is important to have greater oversight over the Library Board.
“…what it does do is it opens the door for the council… to potentially put their input into the library collection development policy, which could possibly include a form of book banning,” Cris Kaminskas, Mayor of Liberty Lake, said.
Her concerns are that this ordinance could “open the door” for restrictions on access to books. Examples given include the Council not bringing in certain books or literally restricting an individual’s access to certain books by putting them behind the library counter.
“…all of which, from what I’ve been told, are illegal– restricting access in that sort of way by putting them behind the shelf…that is a violation of Freedom of Speech. And, in my mind, you know, it’s a violation of someone’s right to choose for themselves what they want to read,” Kaminskas said.
The Mayor has maintained her decision not to veto the ordinance.
“While I would love to, it is a veto proof Majority…My other option is to not sign the ordinance. That does not keep it from going into place. But, it does communicate my continued support of the library’s autonomy. It’s the Library Board’s autonomy to create and implement their own policies without Council oversight,” Kaminskas said.
Those in favor of the ordinance on the City Council say it will not block the Library Board from making policies.
However, the Council can review those policies.
On social media sites like Reddit and Facebook, residents of Liberty Lake posted their opinions on the matter.
“It’s getting George Orwell, ‘1984,’ scary,” Joanie Buck Wiecks, a teacher and resident in opposition to the ordinance, said to NonStop Local in a Facebook message.
NonStop Local also reached out to multiple Liberty Lake residents on Facebook, including those in favor of the new ordinance.
No one was available to be interviewed, but the sentiment for those in favor of the ordinance is that Council oversight will be beneficial.
