“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” (1st Amendment to the Constitution). For the purpose of this letter, direct your attention to the phrase, abridging the freedom of speech.
The consistent foresight “the founders” demonstrate throughout the Constitution, encourages generations to interpret, adapt and revise, if necessary, the text to fit present societal needs. Such is the case with the present trend, exhibited by local community library boards. Do locally elected library boards have the right to censor by challenging, removing or restricting access to a library’s collection or are actions to make it policy, violate the 1st Amendment to the Constitution by “abridging the freedom of speech”?
The American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights states that materials should not be excluded because of their origin, background or the views of the creator. The courts, therefore, have clarified by finding that by restricting access to books in a public library, government officials may not suppress access to information because they disagree with the ideas being expressed.
The argument, demonstrably made by a local group, protects our constitutional rights under the 1st Amendment. “Cromaine for Everyone” contends that the Hartland Library Board, an elected group, has exceeded its authority and violated our first Amendment protection to free speech. By moving books from their designated section to make them more difficult to access, simply because the board objects to the author’s viewpoint, clearly places a burden on the public’s right to receive information. The defenders of the 1st Amendment relentlessly continue the fight against a board whose mission clearly ignores the conditions of free speech.
Carefully consider the future path you wish your community to be taken. No person or citizenry should be led by a “machine” that decides our fate or arbitrarily determines what we should believe or not. Governance is self-determined. You have a choice. Investigate, decide and vote on Nov. 3.
Roy Neal
Linden
