Voters in a small central Iowa city will decide in November whether to give their City Council more say over what books the public library can and can’t offer. The Des Moines Register reported Tuesday that a ballot proposition in Pella asks voters if they support changing the structure of the Pella Public Library Board of Trustees by limiting its authority and giving the City Council more control over library policies and decisions. The effort follows attempts by some community members two years
PELLA, Iowa — Voters in a small Iowa city will decide in November whether to give their City Council more say over what books the public library can and can’t offer.
Like many Iowa communities, Pella’s board holds independent control over how money is spent, who is hired as director and other key issues. It also decides whether to keep books if community members challenge them. The City Council appoints the board’s members and approves the library’s budget.
“There isn’t pornography in the library,” said Anne McCullough Kelly of Vote No to Save Our Library. “There are books that people might personally object to because it’s not aligned with their values, books whose content might make them uncomfortable for different reasons. But there isn’t any actual pornography in the library.”
In late 2021, the library board heard concerns from residents who believed “Gender Queer” — an illustrated memoir of the author’s real-life journey with sexuality and gender that includes frank sexual images — should be removed or placed behind the checkout counter.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
New city council members elected as final Mat-Su voter results talliedVoters in municipal elections OK’d new property tax exemptions and $10 million for a rebuilt Palmer library. Results are expected to be certified this week.
Read more »
Cleveland City Council proclaims ‘Total Solar Eclipse Day’ set for next yearAs the anticipation builds for the upcoming solar eclipse next year, the Cleveland City Council proclaimed a “Total Solar Eclipse Day” Monday evening.
Read more »
Six candidates vying for three occupied Cleveland Heights City Council seatsOhio breaking news, events, businesses, classifieds, sports, photos, videos and more. Comment on the news and join forum at cleveland.com.
Read more »
Concord City Council to again tackle rent stabilization at Oct. 10 meetingThe hot-button issue drew 67 public speakers spanning about five hours of testimony at the council's Sept. 5 meeting.
Read more »
Gov. Newsom vetoes bills mandating LA to create redistricting commissionCity Council President Paul Krekorian said LA governance should be up to the voters in the city.
Read more »
Man fatally shot while hunting with friends for coyotes in IowaAuthorities say an Iowa man has died after being shot while hunting coyotes with friends. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says 53-year-old Mark Arends was hunting on private land near the town of Alden around 8 p.m. Sunday. He was struck by a single rifle shot. The shooting remains under investigation and no arrests have been made. The state agency says the hunters were several hundred yards apart when Arends was shot. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. An autopsy is planned. The dep
Read more »