GILLETTE, Wyo. — Wyoming Freedom Caucus leaders sent a letter Aug. 14 to Gov. Mark Gordon, calling for him to wholly remove Wyoming connections with the American Library Association.
Secretary of State Chuck Gray joined 13 state representatives in signing the letter, which said that cutting ties with the American Library Association would be a Wyoming solution for Wyoming problems.
“Wyoming does not need to take orders, entertain recommendations or accept suggestions from the American Library Association,” they said. “Our local communities can best curate the books on our library shelves the Wyoming way.”
Here’s the letter:
In July, the Montana State Library Commission decided to withdraw from the American Library Association. The Montana Library Association said in a statement that the decision counters the commission’s objective of providing excellent library resources and services by encouraging collaboration and cooperation between libraries and institutional partners.
Campbell County Public Library System’s board, in a 3–2 vote in June, approved revisions to its collection development policy. The revisions cut references to the American Library Association and added a Policy for Protecting Children from Harmful, Sexually Explicit Material in Areas Designated for Minors.
The policy won’t go into effect until the board hires a permanent new library director, Campbell County Human Resources Director Brandy Elder said.
Elder became the interim director in a unanimous vote Aug. 8. The board fired Terri Lesley in a 4–1 vote July 28.
