The Great Falls Public Library photographed on June 7, 2023. (Photo by Nicole Girten/Daily Montanan)
The Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee on Friday tabled two bills seeking to put limitations on public libraries.
The bills, both sponsored by Sen. Daniel Emrich, R-Great Falls, would have put stricter rules around how the state’s public libraries handle “sexually explicit” material and prohibited libraries from offering services “not related to their core function.”
During a hearing on Feb. 27, Emrich described how sad he was that his local library was bereft of books and no longer focused on “library related things,” which prompted Senate Bill 451.
“My local library has decided that they would rather, you know, become a resource for offering homeless people, you know, getting them signed up for public services. That sort of thing really has nothing to do with the library,” Emrich said. “This bill just says, get back to being a library and quit trying to be a public outreach for services that are otherwise covered by other, government organizations or governmental entities.”
No one spoke on behalf of his bill but critics decried the insinuation that libraries should strictly stick to books and information.
Susan Gregory, director of the Bozeman Public Library, wrote in testimony read in committee that a library’s services “vary from one community to another, depending on local choices and patron requests.”
“Some examples of these services include providing test proctoring, notary and passport services, partnering with local food banks to provide free lunches for children who don’t have access to free and reduced hot lunches,” Gregory wrote.
“Last year, six Montana libraries worked to address the epidemic of loneliness by hosting artists and residents that offered classes to lonely seniors, offering free health and wellness classes. And the Belgrade community library supports wellness through a fitness library.”
Susie McIntyre, director of the Great Falls Public Library, also opposed the bill and added that she welcomed Emrich to visit the library and see the work they do in person.
“The mission of the Great Falls Public Library is that we serve as a connection point,” she said. “We empower the community and enhance the quality of life by providing individuals access to information and social, cultural and recreational resources. We work to serve our community based on our community needs.”
One example McIntyre provided was when a retired nurse asked if the library could find a way to support families dealing with dementia. The library applied for a grant and began hosting educational workshops on Alzheimer’s, and monthly social spaces for people experiencing dementia and their caregivers.
“This falls in line with our mission of connecting people to the resources that they need,” she said.
Emrich pushed back against his critics, saying the bill was worded to describe a core function of a library as accessing information, including printed, digital and onsite information.
“That’s pretty darn broad, and could cover anything,” Emrich said, but noted that the bill was meant to put some guardrails in place, eliminating uses such as healthcare and fitness. “Childcare has never been a function of a library in any stretch of the imagination. That’s an extracurricular that really has nothing to do with a library being a library.”
“The library seems to have forgotten what their purpose is,” Emrich said. “If we fund them as libraries, people expect them to be libraries.”
The committee tabled SB 451 in an 8-6 vote.
Emrich’s other bill, Senate Bill 396, would have required libraries to house materials of a sexual nature within the adult or young adult collections, even if they’re intended for a younger audience, and directed chief librarians to develop cataloging standards for materials.
But opponents to the bill said it infringed on the local control of library boards and discounted the expertise of degree-carrying librarians.
“Local library boards and professional librarians already established policies to ensure that materials of any subject in any section of the library contain the resources that are appropriate for that section’s target audience and subject,” said Danny Hess, on behalf of the Montana Library Association. “These policies are grounded in professional standards and best practices and also outline the process by which patrons can challenge books in their libraries.”
Two proponents for SB 396 are current trustees of the Flathead County Library, which went through several years of turmoil after the conservative-leaning board ran off multiple library directors and attempted to censor the library’s collection. The trustees argued that the bill is in the best interest of families and kids.
“Placing sexually explicit material in the adult section, as this bill demands, empowers parents and caregivers to choose whether to expose their children to the material or not,” said trustee Dave Ingram. “It also creates children’s and teen sections where all parents can let their children wander freely, knowing that no child will encounter sexually explicit content until the parents decide to expose them to it.”
Many librarians testified against the bill, including Bozeman Public Library children’s librarian Ellie Newell, who said the law could have unintended consequences with its definitions.
“The bill’s fault lies in its overly broad and incorrect description of public library materials of ‘a sexual or graphic nature,’” Newell said. “Historically, such language has been used to exclude materials that discuss anatomy and physiology, puberty, consent and sexual abuse. While these topics may cause discomfort for some people, my experience is that many Montana families need and value age-appropriate material on these subjects from their public library.”
The committee tabled the bill in a 9-5 vote.