February 2025 Board Meeting
Present: President Bill Bolin; Vice President Jeannine Gogoleski; Secretary Nancy Rosso; Treasurer Becky Basley; Trustee Holly Naylor; Trustee Kim Armstrong; Trustee Dawn Smith; Library Director Sarah Neidert; Recording Person
The meeting lasted 3h18min, and there were 23 speakers. For additional information refer to the Meeting Minutes, which will be approved at the next meeting and then be publicly available.
The meeting was called into order, after the meeting agenda was approved Bolin made a speech. He said that he joined the Board to protect the children and he would like to take a common sense approach. Mentioned that there would be discussion of controversial areas, and quoted laws on minors and obscene content. He mentioned speaking with the sheriff, and mentioned a list of books being compiled. There was some public backlash over Bolin ignoring procedure and speaking out of turn for an extended period of time.
Call to the Public (Spelling of names is based on what was heard.)
- Brent Callant: Told the Board they have a responsibility to the community as a whole, quoted the Strategic Plan, and said that discrimination is not healthy for a community. Canceling the Pride Month display would be discrimination, and asked if Women’s History Month and Black History Month would be next. Speaker said that they were not religious, but quoted the Bible. Wants the Board to put the whole community first.
- Malia Klump: Was there on behalf of several teens, has given 6 years and 300 hours of volunteer service to the library, someone who is comfortable at the library. Spoke against labeling books, as it would not be practical, as different people consider different things sexually explicit and there are a lot of books. Parents should be the ones regulating what their children read. Mentioned this as an attack against the LGBTQ+ community, and doesn’t want people to be isolated. If you don’t like, don’t read. Said that ¼ of highschool kids are queer, to which someone scoffed at. Mentioned the high rates of suicide among queer youth. Supports the continuation of Pride Month.
- Todd?: A gay married man who doesn’t want the Pride displays removed. Wants to show the younger generations they are not alone.
- Jay Withelel: Cromaine is taxpayer funded, and the speaker has been going to the library since 2003. Noted the decorations for Pride Month in the teen room as well as the list of banned books for Banned Book Week that contained descriptions of why they were banned. Cited several books, and protested their availability. Said that librarians were pushing this on children and called them a threat to the health and safety of the children.
- Caroline Shrier: A Hartland Alumni, who mentioned the campaign that Armstrong and Bolin ran under, which was Power to the Parents. Said that parents decide what is appropriate for their own children, not the church, help is not needed deciding what children should and should not read. Protested against Bolin, telling him to keep his role as a Pastor and his role as Board President separate. Pointed out the lack of requests for stickers in the Strategic Plan, and that it was financially irresponsible. Protested against banning teens from the teen room, asked where else they would go if not less supervised places.
- Bryan?: A local resident who expressed support for the library and freedom to read. Brought up the first amendment, libraries are there for individuals to seek and find information. People may discover things by coincidence. The Board cannot make other people’s decisions. Supports the library as is.
- Suisane Everett: A Hartland resident who appreciates the library and staff and the rich array of information and displays the library offers. Loves the new resources and display of different life experiences. A Christian who loves God and neighbors and views books as a way to better understand others. “You don’t get to choose who you represent.”
- Sarah Roth: The library is a community center that is for everyone. If you discontinue Pride you send a message of unwelcome. Takes children to Pride, and approves of queer books and is proud of queer support. Has a disabled child, and mentioned Disability Pride Month. If you take away Pride you take away a safe space and are no longer representing part of your community. Kindness to all, opposes discontinuing Pride displays.
- Lin Petila: In support of labeling books, said the library has been in a steady decline and it caters to a small group. Protested that the labels were not banning books. Mentioned children reading porn. “Clean up the mess the liberals left.”
- ?: “Library has gone over and above for our family.” Would like to volunteer, but doesn’t have time. Has done some private tutoring, and was taught to know how to identify predators. One way is to get the trust of the parents and then expose the children to violent/sexual material and well as demonizing the parents. Mentioned one of the tween book club books, “Buzzing,” about OCD, DnD and summer camp. Considered it grooming? Speaker ran out of time.
- Van Kennedy: A speaker who grew up in Hartland, did Encore, and is one, reminded board that they are a Chirstian, neighbor, parent, and teacher. Speaker is transgender and gay, and is hurt by the people speaking out against them. Said that the library is their safe space and they felt loved there. Said that people need to love each other and not be separated, and pointed out that Bolin was smiling while they were crying. “I am a person, I grew up here, I am trans, I am gay.”
- Nancy Ross: A member of the library since being a small child as well as a former Teen Volunteer. Said that sexually explicit content is in the adult section. “Labeling books is just putting,” your own ideology on books, they are labeled because they are against your ideals. Said that heterosexuality is a sexual orientation and would need a label.
- Connie Robinson: “Children are gifts from God.” Children are helpless and labeling books is common sense. The labels are not meant to be an attack. “When [did] we become a community that supports porn in our library?” Mentioned the adult book Genderqueer, said that it is a filthy book that should be accessed on your own and not library material.
- Deb Whitson: Came to support the library, it is great. Has been here for 30+ years, the community is overwhelmingly positive. All of her children love the library. She expected better based on the survey, she never heard how they wanted to limit her parental right as to what her children can and cannot read. If you cannot keep track of your children’s reading, that is your own problem. Can get recommendations from librarians and can find books on what subjects her children are interested in. The majority of people are not queer, they deserve respect and a place to be.
- Greg Keller: On the Hartland School Board, not speaking on behalf of that Board. Wants to show support for the board. It would be helpful if more materials were provided ahead of time to the public. Supports adding the Pledge of Allegiance to meetings. Wants common sense labeling, and getting rid of rainbow stickers. The Board needs to put aside their emotions.
- Kate De…?: A former library president, said she was sorry that Don Thompson wasn’t here tonight. Mentioned the freedom to read, and the first amendment. The board is nonpartisan, and needs to reflect that. The community you represent includes folks you don’t like and those who live differently. A lot of what is going on right now is political. Served on the Board for 8 years, up until a couple years ago nobody attended meetings. Admitted anger over Bolin speaking out of turn at the beginning. “People have a right to read what they want to.” The staff are educated, the library is a public, neutral zone.
- Julee Bellanti: Everyone wants the best library, and has different opinions. The books that have been newly purchased push a false ideology, the books are harmful to our innocence. Some want to ban books. Position isn’t from hate, it is from love. People voted in the Trustees. People can’t take their children to the library due to unknown content. The library should represent the majority.
- Mary Pat Gainer: Resident for 30+ years. “God bless you all.” Brings grandson to the library and comes across materials that go against her values. Wants content ratings and labels on the books, and asks why that is a problem. It is common sense, movies have ratings. There are mature books available for two year olds. She cannot read every book her children want to read. “Yeah, you work for the public. And the public elected you.” If the circumstance does not change she will stop going to the library.
- Anthony McKenna: Last meeting there was a presentation on the landscaping project, supported it. Highlighted the topic at home. Appalled that many parents would destroy their right to decide what they read. Banning Pride Month is going in a disturbing direction and there cannot be anything gained from it.
- Alex Yarber: Full support for the labels and getting rid of Pride Month. No one is trying to take books away. Want a label so parents can know what their children are reading. Read an explicit excerpt from the adult book GenderQueer on masturbation. Claimed that that is what people want their kids to read. Said that he was put on a hitlist by liberal groups and that his wife is being attacked, asked for it to stop.
- Anne Marie Yarber: A sophomore and Teen Volunteer, supports adding the Pledge of Allegiance to meetings. People oppose the flag because the government commits wrongdoing, but the Pledge reminds people of the ideals and rights of the USA. People have the freedom to not say the Pledge, but people should have a chance to say it.
- Taryn Friar?: Thanked the Board and speakers. Wants to add the Pledge of Allegiance. A combat veteran who lost friends under the flag, the flag means more to him. Need to honour the flag.
- Wes Nakagiri: Comments are his and do not reflect his elected position. Wants to add the Pledge. There are five conservatives on the Board and two less conservatives. Labeling is common sense and is not banning books. The library needs to move away from sexual ideology and ban Pride Month. Counted and there are double the amount of books on queer/gender than the Constitution. There is a lame-duck bill that wants unelected people to choose books, the MLA promoted it, wants the library to reconsider its relationship with the MLA.
Director’s Report:
Increase in investments in people and resources. A HR company is giving an audit on all of the policies and procedures. The minimum wage increase went into effect. The first floor staff office is getting some new furniture, and some technology is being updated, including a new printer. Options for family insurance coverage are being looked at. There was an update on programs (14 adult programs, a Teen Open Mic Night, Winter Fest, Love Songs Throughout the Ages), and the library hosted a wedding. The Music Hall will be having an Organ concert fundraiser in May, and Hartland Art Walk is being worked on, a commissioned weaving piece is being looked into.
Teen Advisory Board (TAB) Report: On the topic of requiring teenagers to be supervised by a staff member at time:
Elizabeth Naylor: I understand that there have been a couple of incidents with teens in the library behaving poorly. However, when considering limiting the movement of teens in the library I’d like to ask you to consider a few things. First of all, these incidents are not reflected across the board and do not reflect the majority of teen patrons. Teenagers have been coming to the library for years, especially after school, and we have yet to have issues with more than a couple teenagers, whom the librarians have handled excellently. Limiting the movement of teenagers in the library due to the misbehavior of a few unfairly punishes the majority. Additionally, it harms the Teen Volunteer Program, as it blocks the ability for teenagers to work independently when the library is not fully staffed or when, inevitably, the librarians have to attend to something and step out. This does not just apply to teen volunteers, but all teens when hoping to find a quiet space to work, especially when needing access to the computers. Just over last June and July we had 40 teens contribute 821 hours to the library in volunteer time, which when translated to the estimated national value of a volunteer hour* comes out to over $27,000 in two months . Some of the teenagers who spend time at the library have come from the Teen Center, which operates under different rules, and time to adjust is needed. I ask that you work with library staff and the Teen Advisory Board to find solutions to any issues that arise with the teenagers. Thank you.
*From the Nonprofit Leadership Center
Liz Gauthier: Hello. For those of you who do not know, I am Liz Gauthier, the other Teen Ambassador. I will elaborate on a few of Elizabeth’s points and add my own. If you were to limit our access to the teen room, you would be cutting off access to books, computers, and a safe space for many teens. It is not just teens who read young adult books; adults also explore many titles from this library section. Limiting access to the teen room affects more than just the teens; it prevents the community from enjoying an entire section of books. The teen section houses not just books but also six computers. I have yet to enter the teen room and not see a computer in use. Some days, all six computers are occupied by teenagers, usually working on homework, conducting research, or gaming. There are simply not enough computers available elsewhere. About half of the teenagers at Cromaine have been visiting the library for years, and once they reach seventh grade, they walk to the library after school. One of the most important reasons we ask you not to limit access to the teen room is for the community. The teen room is the only place that allows us to hang out with our friends, express ourselves, and not worry about disrupting other patrons. Occasionally, it can be a peaceful, quiet place to work, while at other times, it serves as a great hangout spot for friend groups. If the teen room closed, we would have to sit in the adult or children's section, which could feel quite awkward. Being with other age groups can be uncomfortable for many. Most would prefer sitting next to a random teen they don’t know rather than in the adult section, as it feels safer and less awkward. If you limit our access to the teen room, it goes beyond just the books; you are limiting our community. I hope you consider our words as you discuss the topic of limiting access to the teen room.
Gogoleski shouted out Heather and Ms. Liz. Bolin mentioned that he was a library volunteer for two years in junior high, and expressed support for the volunteers.
Board Discussion (items may be out of order):
Bolin said that he doesn’t mind public comments and thanked all the speakers.
On the annual board participation report, he abstained from filling out as he is new. He will be going to the Gulf of Mexico for a vacation soon.
Discussion over how to work better with the Friends of the Library.
Considering adding a second call to the public, Bolin wants to add it while Gogoleski opposes adding another Call to the Public.
At some point, the Board entered closed session to review a note from the library’s lawyer. Basley would like one for efficiency.
Report from the Finance Committee.
Desire to assemble an Ad Hoc Committee to deal with the outdoor project.
On the topic of the Pledge, Rosso did not support adding it as she says it has become a political issue. Gogoleski does support adding the Pledge, was the one who originally brought it up to support the Eagle Scouts. Smith says that the Pledge is not religious. Naylor mentions experiencing harassment over how she says the Pledge. Bolin is in support, “we’re Americans.” In the end, it was sent to Committee.
There was discussion over labeling books, which was moved ahead from its planned discussion time in April by Bolin. Bolin said that he wants to treat the labeling fairly across all groups. Naylor mentioned that this issue was brought up before, and at the time it was unanimously voted down. She said that she wasn’t aware that people were discontent over this. Bolin said that they were. The issue was sent back to Committee.
In the discussion about Pride Month, Bolin asked why there wasn’t a heterosexual month. The audience responded that they could have one. Bolin responded that they should do neither and that it should be left between partners. Naylor mentioned that the displays are not the Board’s decision, they are the librarians. She brought up concern over overstepping their power, and asked if there was distrust of the library staff. Smith said that the Board is non partisan, and that this is a politicized ideology. Bolin agreed that it was an ideology, and that the library’s laws were as well. He mentioned, “collection development.” It was sent to Committee.
On the topic of teen movement in the library, Bolin brought up that he walked in on what two teens kissing, which he described comparing the scene to two octopuses. He said that there needed to be proper decorum, that he does not want anymore private sessions, that the teens may be damaged mentally, as making out is harmful. He brought up the issue of rape, pregnancy and someone seeing sexual acts, and mentioned talking to the police. He insinuated that there had been rape at the library, before claifying that there had not been any instances of this happening. There was a mention of being unable to restrict books access by another member. It was sent back to Committee.
End of notes, meeting ended soon after.