Supervisor Jermeland respondents to letter

For the record, I will respond to this. This is my response and not my colleagues. I'll let them speak for themselves. Obviously John has not listened to the transcript of our meeting with the librarians or he would have known the facts.

1.) The librarians of each city made a request for money for the next fiscal year. It was just a request which no determination of actual funding will be set until budget process time which starts in January. Supervisor Rayhons closed comments on the matter by saying we will see how much funding we can provide then when our whole budget is put together.

2.) The Britt librarian was asked by me directly about putting this book in a restricted area of the library where you had to request it to get it. She said the book has not been checked out in the past year and she didn't feel this was necessary. I have read the book and no, I don't think it should be in the library but I also know 1st Amendment rights are in play here. When FB takes down my conservative posts, I don't like it. So while I don't agree with having this book and other likeminded books there with it, it is not my call.

3.) The Britt librarian asked members of the public to come directly to her with their concerns on this matter. I urge you to do this if you want the book removed.

4.) I see this as a Britt issue, not a county issue. The Britt Library board voted unanimously to keep this book in the library. While I don't believe the review process was done correctly, I have no say in that. The chain of command is #1 Britt Library Board, #2 The Britt City Council, #3 Hancock County Supervisors. We are being asked to step over two levels of government to ban the book. All we control is a portion of their funding. I, personally will not punish all the other county libraries for this issue. It’s not being fair to them.

 In an earlier phone conversation with John, he expressed that there is no real need for libraries in each town, Having one in Garner and Britt is all he feels is necessary. I disagree. In many of our smaller towns, the town library is the only thing they have left besides their fire hall/departments. The schools left, the banks left, the gas stations left, the restaurants left, leaving the library as the gathering point for social activities. The libraries are where people can access a computer, read a newspaper or just mingle. And lastly and most importantly, the library is a safe after school drop-off point for kids with working parents. So their funding is important to me.

If you have further questions about this matter, I'd be happy to discuss it on a phone call. I want you to understand that questions were asked and suggestions were given, funding has NOT been determined as John states here and Britt area people were asked to talk directly to their town librarian.