An Attack on Freedom of Expression - from the Colorado Association of Libraries

The Colorado Association of Libraries (CAL) chose as their CO Library Board Member of the Year the President of the Pueblo Library District. Under her tenure, the Board passed an "admonition" that nobody can make comments about anybody connected to the library in public forum at Board meetings. This includes all of the public Board members and the public Director. This freezing of speech occurred after a citizen was calling for the Board President's resignation for cause. That citizen was actually stopped from speaking by the Board's attorney. The library is also facing lawsuits, allegations of criminal acts, and an open DA investigation.

CAL was told about all of this, complete with documentation. Instead of upholding library principles, including their own statement that they support intellectual freedom, they decided to allow politics to damage the reason why libraries exist in the first place - freedom of expression and information. They upheld their original decision despite, by some CAL Board members' own words, they knew nothing of what is really going on at the Pueblo library before they made their decision.

In other words, they made their original decision in ignorance then they upheld their decision based on politics.

If we can't depend upon libraries - of all places - to defend intellectual freedom, then we are screwed.