Iowa Library Closes After Backlash Over LGBTQ Content
After the departure of its third prospective director in the past two years, the Vinton Public Library in Vinton, Iowa has shut its doors. The shortlist of quick departures is in response to massive backlash that fell upon the public library over LGBTQ content and staff, which has led to the library to temporarily close until this past Monday.
For the past two years, the library has faced relentless disdain over their choice to not only display, but simply contain, LGBTQ content within their public establishment. This came to a head around Pride Month. Colton Neely, the most recent interim library director who is also out as gay, left his position in early July after taking over in June for previous director Renee Greenlee. This caused the library to close temporarily in order to readjust and adapt to having yet another vacancy in a director position.
The library has reopened as of July 18 but still faces harsh criticism year-round for having a diverse range of materials, or what local residents call a “liberal agenda.” This supposed liberal agenda also includes the possession of informational books about President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, while simultaneously not having enough content on former president Donald Trump, critics say.
In a meeting earlier this month, Vinton resident Brooke Kruckenberg says, “It appears that there is a slow, quiet agenda moving into our local library culture through the staff hiring decisions and the books that have crept in our children’s section of the library. I don’t believe the library is representing our town well with hiring a majority of staff who are openly a part of the LGBTQ community,” via LGBTQ Nation.
This vocalization of concern over diverse library content paired with anti-LGBTQ sentiment is not new to town meetings, city hall gatherings, and court hearings nationwide. Recently, the debate surrounding teachers being open about their own sexualities and even making children aware that the LGBTQ community exists in the world has been up for debate; Florida most recently passed its “Don’t Say Gay” law, effectively banning gender- and sexuality-inclusive instruction in the entire state.
With such regressive topics of discussion in recent news, members of the LGBTQ community and allies alike have reported feeling extremely disheartened in comparison to recent years, according to the 2022 GLAAD acceptance study released last month.
However, the library’s recent reopening is led and backed by champions of equality and diverse education nationwide. Mark Stringer, the executive director of the ACLU of Iowa, made a statement this past week stating that “public libraries were founded on the principle of making ideas and information available to all, regardless of income or geography. Libraries like the one in Vinton have an important role in the community.”
The community of Vinton have not given up yet, looking ahead to ensure that everyone is continually provided a community resource adequately representing all people. Reopening and maintaining a director is their first and utmost priority.
