The 6/11/25 Leavenworth County Commission meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance that promises “liberty and justice for all.” A prayer was offered that thanked the Lord for “…all the people that we represent and I pray that you help us to do them fairly.” During the meeting, a County Commissioner said “We are here to serve you, not the other way around.”
After these statements endorsing freedom, justice and fairness for all, two County Commissioners condemned Mayor Holly Pittman and the Leavenworth Public Library Board for “pushing an agenda” related to a Pride proclamation and book displays. A County Commissioner claimed these matters created division, not unity, in the community. Unity implies togetherness, not exclusion.
Under Kansas law, Library Boards have full authority for making and adopting rules and regulations for the administration of public libraries. Three years ago, the Board of Trustees of the Leavenworth Public Library formally endorsed unity in fundamental organizational documents. Our Mission Statement reads: “The Leavenworth Public Library is a gathering space for everyone that stimulates discovery, understanding, and enjoyment.” Our Values are: “Community, Openness, Service and Discovery.” Our Guiding Principles are: “Operate ethically, Respect different points of view, Seek ways to improve.”
Our display policy supports discovery, openness and respect for different points of view: “Displays will not be excluded due to the origin, background or views of those contributing to their creation. Displays will not be avoided based on anticipated disapproval.” These are not empty words, their meaning is practiced in the Library on a regular basis. Pride Month is one of several nationally recognized heritage and awareness months that have been featured in our displays. Others include Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Our displays have highlighted poetry, Scottish American heritage, Jewish heritage, Arab-American heritage, military history, immigration, Thanksgiving, homeschool resources, Booker Prize winners, space and astronomy, small business, self-sufficiency, snow, chocolate, beach reads and short stories. Our displays are intended to stimulate discovery, understanding and enjoyment; they are opportunities for patrons to find materials that reflect their own interests or identities and explore perspectives different from their own.
A County Commissioner cited the titles of five books in the Library display he believed should be hidden from view and titles of several books he deemed acceptable. The five books he condemned have been in the Library collection, some for years, and borrowed multiple times by patrons exercising their right to read. The Library also owns all the other books he considered acceptable, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn where young characters lie, steal, smoke, beat up other kids, skip school and practice witchcraft. One reader’s cherished childhood classic could very well be forbidden to other children by their parents. A perfect modern example is the Harry Potter series. Libraries loaned millions of them to children. Some parents objected to the supernatural elements, never let their children read them and tried to have them removed from libraries. The Library does not interfere with a parent’s authority by deciding what their child can or cannot select. That is a parent’s job, for their children, not for all children.
On that topic, a County Commissioner stated “You think the parents should be involved” and “is that what you want your kids to read without you knowing it?” The Library strongly supports parental authority and provides tools to help them exercise it. Parents who sign a card application for their child agree to “…accept full responsibility for the content of all library materials selected by their minor…”. When entering a child’s library card, we take the extra step of linking it to their parent’s card so they can access their the child’s record.
Presidents, County Commissioners, Mayors, Library Board members and Library employees swear an oath to support the Constitution, which includes the First Amendment. The First Amendment is not a liberal or conservative value. It is an American value. One that Library policy and practice will staunchly defend.
Leavenworth Public Library Board of Trustees