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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 3257-2021Sponsored by: Council Members Knackstedt and Pettey KENAI CITY OF KENAI ORDINANCE NO. 3257-2021 AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, ACCEPTING AND APPROPRIATING A COLLECTION EQUITY AWARD FROM THE NETWORK OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE REGION 5 FOR THE PURCHASE OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS TITLES FOR THE KENAI COMMUNITY LIBRARY COLLECTION. WHEREAS, the City of Kenai received a Collection Equity Award from the Network of the National Library of Medicine Region 5 for the purchase of health and wellness materials for the library collection; and, WHEREAS, the funds will be used to purchase materials in a variety of formats to support the health information needs of the residents of Kenai and surrounding communities; and, WHEREAS, there will be a focus on purchasing materials for underrepresented groups based on census data and informal community conversations; and, WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City of Kenai to appropriate these grant funds for the purpose intended. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, as follows: Section 1. That the City Manager is authorized to accept a grant from the Network of the National Library of Medicine in the amount of $1,500 for the purchase of library books and to execute grant agreements and to expend the grant funds to fulfill the purpose and intent of this Ordinance. Section 2. That the estimated revenues and appropriations be increased as follows: General Fund: Increase Estimated Revenues— Federal Grants, Library $1,500 Increase Appropriations — Library --Books Section 3. Severability: That if any part or provision of this ordinance or application thereof to any person or circumstances is adjudged invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such judgment shall be confined in its operation to the part, provision, or application directly involved in all controversy in which this judgment shall have been rendered, and shall not affect or impair the validity of the remainder of this title or application thereof to other persons or circumstances. Ordinance No. 3257-2021 Page 2 of 2 The City Council hereby declares that it would have enacted the remainder of this ordinance even without such part, provision, or application. Section 4. Effective Date: That pursuant to KMC 1.15.070(f), this ordinance shall take effect immediately upon enactment. ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, this 15th day of December, 2021. ATTEST: J tl Heinz, MMC, ity Clerk Approved by Finance: Introduced: December 1, 2021 Enacted: December 15, 2021 Effective: December 15, 2021 New Tex[ Underlined; [DELETED TEM BRACKETED] 0/ K E N A City of Kenai 1 210 Fidalgo Ave, Kenai, AK 99611-7794 1907.283.7535 1 www1enaixity MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Brian Gabriel and Kenai City Council FROM: Council Members Knackstedt and Pettey DATE: November 12, 2021 SUBJECT: Ordinance No. 3257-2021 — Collection Equity Award from the Network of the National Library of Medicine, Region 5 The Kenai Community Library has been selected to receive a $1,500 award from the Network of the National Library of Medicine for the purchase of health and wellness titles. Per the American Library Association collection development guidelines, health and wellness publications are considered obsolete and in need of replacement after five -years. Many of the existing titles exceed five years of age. This grant will assist the library in refreshing outdated information, and bringing the Health Section up to date with new titles. We request your support in accepting this grant for our community library, and to show your appreciation for our Library Director. Excerpts from the Kenai Community Library Policies: "The library supports the Library Bill of Rights of the American Library Association Freedom to Read statement. The Library's mandate is to provide the public access to information on all sides of an issue." "Books and/or other library material selection are and shall be vested in the librarian." '... censorship is a purely individual matter and declares that while anyone is free to reject for himself books of which he does not approve, he cannot exercise this right of censorship to restrict the freedom to read to others." 7 0' 00 00 70 K N City of Kenai 1210 Fidalgo Ave, Kenai, AK 99611-77941907.283.7535 1 www.6naixity MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Brian Gabriel and Council Members THROUGH: Paul Ostrander, City Manager FROM: Katja Wolfe, Library Director DATE: November 12, 2021 SUBJECT: Ordinance 3257-2021-- Collection Equity Outreach Award from the Network of the National Library of Medicine, Region 5 The Library has been selected to receive a Collection Equity Outreach Award from the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM). The NNLM's mission is "to advance the progress of medicine and improve the public health by providing all U.S. health professionals with equal access to biomedical information and improving the public's access to information to enable them to make informed decisions about their health" (hgps://nnlm.gov/). The mission of the Kenai Community Library is to provide a comfortable and friendly environment, whether that is in-person or virtually, for our visitors of all ages and abilities to pursue opportunities of life-long learning, relax and read current materials, receive knowledgeable assistance and answers to questions, find professionally selected materials in all formats for personal enjoyment, enjoy programs or performances, and have access to technological resources. In other words, our mission and status as a community organization position us well as a key contributor to community health and health literacy by providing reliable and current health information and training staff to answer consumer health reference questions with confidence and skill. However, a significant portion of our health-related materials is 5 years or older. Unlike hospital or medical library special collections, our collection must provide wide range of information to the general public, from students to parents to seniors, and to people of all backgrounds. Keeping our health section updated and reliable does require significant funds, and this award will help us reach our goal faster. Per the award, the amount of $1,500 will be used for the purchase of health and wellness titles in various formats (e.g., print, audio, digital books, and DVDs) for all age groups. Library staff trained in collection development will select items on both physical and mental health and wellbeing from well -reviewed popular science, reference, and graphic medicine titles. Review sources include professional library journals such as School Library Journal, Library Journal, and Booklist. Topics will include self-care and mental health, healthy habits, dealing and living with chronic stress and chronic diseases, caregiver support, suicide, prevention, traditional knowledge, complementary and non -Western medicine (like, acupuncture and herbal remedies), reference books on Medicaid and Medicare, health literacy (i.e., how to find and use health information to make informed healthcare decisions), items on specific conditions (i.e., breast cancer and dementia), women's -� health, and men's health. We aim to serve as a resource for reliable health information and to help reduce health disparities in our community by making health information freely available and accessible. Health literacy is a 2151 century skill that is crucial to understanding health information and making knowledgeable health-related decisions. The award will help us expand our efforts to refresh and replenish our health section with new and updated titles. Your consideration is appreciated. Page 2 of 2 �� The City of Kenai I wwwlenai.city 11/321, 12:13 PM Back By PopWr Demand: CNHAiOn EWK, A ani I R.Om 5 Bbp HOME SLOG ABOUT REGION 5 SLOG FAQ WRITING FOR REGION 5 BLDG REGION 5 SLOG » NOVEMBER 3RD, 2021 4 CATEGORIES —p CONTACT US Y ARCHIVES 90 REGION Q SEARCH 001 Back By Popular Demand: 21 Collection Equity Award Posted by Michele 5Rgt7, on October 21st 2021 Posted in: gfpg, Funding, News from NNJM egion5 *Tags: Funding, NNLM .Segi r Collection Equity Award Background/Purpose The National Network of Libraries of Medicine Region 5 under cooperative agreement with the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), announces the availability of funding through its Collection Equity Awards to fund collection development that amplifies diverse voices writing on health/medical topics or that include a health or medical issue as an integral narrative theme. Such collection development efforts are important to ensure equitable access to health information and promote health literacy and support programmatic outreach in under -resourced communities. The Awards are designed to help build collections that are reflective of voices of the communities served which may be revealed through different genres such as graphic medicine, fiction, nonfiction, memoirs, Young Adult, manuscripts (published and unpublished), oral histories and film. Expanding diverse voices in libraries (all types), public health agencies, academic programs, or community organizations ensures collection equity and supports health literacy by illuminating health issues either common, or conversely, unique to underserved populations in the region. Specifically, the Collection Equity Award seeks to address one or more of the following aims from the NNLM Region 5 cooperative agreement and supports NLM's mission to provide U.S. researchers, health professionals, public health workforce, educators, and the public with equal access to biomedical and health information resources and data. • Advance health equity through national and regional partnerships and initiatives to ensure a variety of members and the public will have equal access to biomedical, health, and public health information and data. e Administer funding awards to support a highly trained workforce for biomedical and health information resources and data, improve health literacy, and increase health equity through information. Eligibility Applicants must be from institutions that are members of NNLM Region S. Membership is free and open to institutions interested in improving equitable access to health information. To verify your membership, find out your NNLM ID or to apply for membership, contact Outreach and Access Coordinator Emily Hamstra via email: ehamstra@uw.edu. Funds from this award must be used for purchase of materials and resources from any genre that amplify diverse voices writing on health/medical topics or that include a health or medical issue as an integral narrative theme. Funding ARCHIVED COfJTH.I • 2021 2020 •2019 • 2018 .2-0„ • 2016 • 2015 2014 • 2013 • 2412 • 2011 .2010 2008 2007 . 2400 2005 SUBSCRIBE TO ALL POSTS Enter your email address to receive notifications of each individual post via email. Email Address Suburifx BLOG CATEGORIES Accessibilkv(7) All of Us (56) &1Dg (86) Citizen Science (12) Consumer Health (4) Data Science (90) Digital Health Literacy (5) E u (2) Efm�rgencv Preparednes (77) Fundi g (166) Health LReracv (209) Health Observances (51) x(13) New from NNLM Region i (5) News from Network Members (63) News from NIH (22) News from NLM (307) News from NNLM (47) Mipa/Mewamlm.povhepbn_SAaGaDypopubr-0emand<dbWmaquNyaxarW in (M L -J 11WI,12:18 PM Back By Popular Demand Collection couay Award I Region 5 &og Funding Period: December 17, 2021 — April 30, 2022 Amount: $1,500 Number of Awards Available: Minimum of 6 Application Step 1: Send an email stating your intent to apply by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on November 12, 2021 to nnlm(@uw.edu. Include the name of your library/organization and your intent to apply for the Collection Equity Award. Step 2: Download this Application Form and submit the completed Application Form to nnlmbuw.edu by the Application Deadline: 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, December 10, 2021 Note: • Applications submitted by 5:00pm Pacific Time, December 10, 2021, will receive first consideration. • The NNLM Region 5 staff will acknowledge your application when received, and notification of awards will be given by December 17, 2021. Budget Guidelines: • Award is $1,500. A lump sum payment will be issued upon submission of a completed invoice. The invoice template will be provided by Region 5 staff. Evaluation of Applications Applications will be reviewed by: NNLM Region 5 staff. Reviewers will score applications based on the following categories and criteria. 1. SIGNIFICANCE (60 points): The proposal: 1. clearly defines the target populations it is meant to serve; and 2. provides evidence of need. 2. PROJECT PLAN (20 points): The project plan: 1. demonstrates potential to increase access to biomedical and health information for defined target populations; and 2. describes an effective publicity/promotion strategy. 3. EVALUATION (20 points): The evaluation plan is clear and uses sound methodology. REPORTING: The applicant agrees to the reporting requirement. This is an inclusion/exclusion criterion. Applicants lacking this element will be disqualified. Additional Information Reporting: A final report is required no later than May 27, 2022, which consists of a bibliography of the resources purchased. The citation format will be provided to awardees. NIH Acknowledgement: Any resource developed with project funds must include an acknowledgment of NIH grant support and a disclaimer stating the following: "Developed resources reported in this (publications, press releases, internet sites] are supported by the National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH) under cooperative agreement number UG4LM013725. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health." Need additional information or help? Michele Spatz, Outreach and Engagement Coordinator, NNLM Region 5, n irmiDuw.edu Telephone: 206-543-8262 ABOUT MICHELE SPATZ Michele is the NNLM Region 5 Outreach and Engagement Coordinator. She has extensive experience providing consumer health information and a passion for health literacy. Michele truly believes, 'Because of you, Libraries Transform.®" Mips//news.nnlm.govRegm ata&-by-popularAOmaM Oleaiome uAy-awarN • News From NNLM PN R (517) • News from NNLM Reg, m 5 (24) • 4Pioid Use Disorder (2) • PNR Weekly. Digest (55) • Public Health (96) • Public Libraries (119) • Resource Sharing & Document Del'very (58) • Substance Misuse (3) ' Technology. (207) • Training & Education (417) W 11/!/21, 12:18 PM Back By Papukr Demand: CdA nEquity R WIRagPo 5 O 0 Email author Visit authors website ::: view all posts by Michele 5p= © Previous post Next post hapsJ/news.nnlm,pq/regpn 5m a-by-papuwraemand OIIWiOn-eggdty ar m From: Henry Knackstedt To: Jamie Heinz Subject: Fw: Regarding the Kenai Community Library Date: Tuesday, October 26, 20216:34:14 AM Please include this email when the Ordinance is reintroduced on December 1st. Henry From: Maria Allison <mlaalaska1764@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, October 25, 20214:06:41 PM To: Henry Knackstedt Subject: Regarding the Kenai Community Library CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Dear Kenai City Council Members, Today we were dismayed to read that some members of the Kenai City Council believe that they should choose the books that are ordered by die Kenai City Library. As members of our community for 43 years, we have been extremely impressed by the Kenai Library, and their wonderful collection of books. A library is not only a place to check out books, but a storehouse of die fiction, non-fiction, science, art, music, children's and grown-up's books of the world. It is full of information of all kinds. By providing free access to newspapers, magazines and books from everywhere, it allows all of us to learn and improve our minds. It is up to us to be the ones who decide what books to check out It is up to the library to provide everything available to us. No city council nor other governmental agency should determine what books should be placed in the library. Free access to all information is what the library is about Librarians have always been major defenders of intellectual freedom, long before most people even knew what it was. This means that they are watchdogs on topics like free speech, copyright, privacy, and the right to know what governments and corporations are doing. They and their associations lobby for these rights and fight alongside other citizens to preserve them. Libraries provide a free education to all. No matter what our income level is, we are all allowed to check out books and do our own research. It is "green" in drat the books are shared, not read once and thrown away. It is one of the best resources for community information. It is a place where people of all ages can practice lifelong learning. Please recognize the importance of a community library and our community's need to have access to all books. Libraries' collections should not be determined by a politically motivated group such as elected officials, but by librarians who are trained in this field. Sincerely, Maria and Thomas Allison From: Dave Peck To: City Coundl Subject: Library material grant for health care materials 3248-2021 Date: Tuesday, October 26, 20215:15:41 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Dear City Council members: I attended the last city council meeting and gave public testimony as well as submitted a previous letter on this matter. After watching/attending the proceedings I want to clarify my objections to this ordinance. It is not the nature of the materials that might be ordered that I was worried about as much as the terms/purpose of the grant, be it from the State of Alaska or a federal agency. If it is the representation of the city or the granting agency that the grant is necessary or will be used to (1) attain equity for (2) under -represented groups in the community, in order to qualify for the money, then I would urge the city council not to authorize the funding. That's because of the nature of using "equity" as a social goal as I described in my previous letter. As a Kenai resident I object to that concept. Underserved is another phrase that leads one to believe we have people in the community who are purposely ignored who need more social justice p to thrive.This ties in directly to equity. And once you accept equity as legitimate (even in a small way as in this case) the sky is the limit. I don't object to the materials. I object to the reasoning the city is providing to qualify for the grant. I hope this makes sense. Respectfully, Dave Peck 705 Sycamore St Kenai From: Brian G. Gabriel. Sr. To: Jamie Heinz Subject: Fwd: Approval of Library grant Date: Thursday, October 28, 20211:49:36 PM Attachments: Library Bill of Riahts.odf Freedom to Read.odf Jamie, Please include this comment in the packet for the first meeting in December. Thanks, Brian Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Michael Christian <barbmike2@icloud.com> Date: October 28, 2021 at 10:56:22 AM AKDT To: "Brian G. Gabriel, Sr." <bgabriel@kenai.city> Subject: Approval of Library grant CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. First of all, thank you for the hours you spend working on the City Council. I am writing not to criticize recent events, but to provide arguments in favor of the division of civic duties and the preservation of public access to a wide range of information. I was dismayed with the pressure placed on the Council and Librarian Katja Wolfe to delay the approval of the National Library of Medicine grant until Ms. Wolfe provides a list of intended purchases. This action deeply involves the Council and one member of the community in the specialized work assigned a city employee: the considered acquisition of up-to-date and varied books, periodicals, and databases that allow the public to research a subject and make informed choices. I would like to offer several arguments in support of our librarian and the freedom of information that libraries are intended to provide: 1. The ethics of library science preclude the type of one-sided expansion that the community member seems to fear. Ms. Wolfe's job requires her to know not only r what is already available in her own library but what can be accessed through interlibrary loans from Alaska's community libraries, the UA Consortium Library, and the libraries of the other forty-nine states. Few individuals outside of r_1 librarians possess this specialized knowledge or know how to apply it. 2. The City Council has not previously vetted library acquisitions. Since the ethical selection of reliable and balanced information requires considerable time and expertise, the City hires a full-time, qualified librarian. I doubt that the Council would sincerely want to add that full-time burden to their workload. Likewise, few individuals in the community could or would do this work. 3. Rather than second guess Ms. Wolfe's dedication to her job, the community and the Council should commend her for seeking and winning a grant. Having pursued grants myself, I appreciate the amount of budgetary and background research required for applications. Also, the grant, once awarded, demands even more time in records and justifications for the final report to the grantor. In this respect, the grant itself becomes a form of supervision. 4. Since the growth of social media and self -publishing houses that allow the dissemination of personal opinion and untested data, Americans have become inundated with information that may not be reliable or ethical. On the other hand, as I know from personal experience, juried periodicals and respected publishing houses ask experts in the field to vigorously examine submissions before publication can be offered. I would suggest this is especially true of medical publishing. 5. Before implying a librarian has nefarious intentions, an accuser should thoroughly research a chosen subject to identify whether shortfalls or biases actually exist. 6. I personally think Katja Wolfe deserves an apology for such an ethical affront from anyone with fewer library credentials, less experience, and less knowledge of our interlinked library than she has. Her treatment at the recent meeting was offensive in the extreme. I hope these observations are helpful to you. I have attached information that may not be widely known among community members. Respectfully, Barbara Christian 410 Rogers Road Kenai, AK 99611 907-283-3219 Supplements: r r 1. Katja Wolfe holds both a Masters of Library and Information Services and a Masters in Public Health. 2. Library Bill of Rights (below) 3. Freedom to Read Statement (attached) r� t Library Bill of Rights The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services. I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation. II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval. III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment. IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas. V. A person's right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views. VI. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use. VII. All people, regardless of origin, age, background, or views, possess a right to privacy and confidentiality in their library use. Libraries should advocate for, educate about, and protect people's privacy, safeguarding all library use data, including personally identifiable information. Adopted June 19, 1939, by the ALA Council; amended October 14, 1944; June 18, 1948; February 2, 1961; June 27, 1967; January 23, 1980; January 29, 2019. Inclusion of "age" reaffirmed January 23, 1996. Although the Articles of the Library Bill of Rights are unambiguous statements of basic principles that should govern the service of all libraries, questions do arise concerning application of these principles to specific library practices. See the documents designated by the Intellectual Freedom Committee as Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights (http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations). Lj The Freedom to Read Statement The freedom to read is essential to our democracy. It is continuously under attack. Private groups and public authorities in various parts of the country are working to remove or limit access to reading materials, to censor content in schools, to label "controversial' views, to distribute lists of "objectionable" books or authors, and to purge libraries. These actions apparently rise from a view that our national tradition of free expression is no longer valid; that censorship and suppression are needed to counter threats to safety or national security, as well as to avoid the subversion of politics and the corruption of morals. We, as individuals devoted to reading and as librarians and publishers responsible for disseminating ideas, wish to assert the public interest in the preservation of the freedom to read. Most attempts at suppression rest on a denial of the fundamental premise of democracy: that the ordinary individual, by exercising critical judgment, will select the good and reject the bad. We trust Americans to recognize propaganda and misinformation, and to make their own decisions about what they read and believe. We do not believe they are prepared to sacrifice their heritage of a free press in order to be "protected" against what others think may be bad for them. We believe they still favor free enterprise in ideas and expression. These efforts at suppression are related to a larger pattern of pressures being brought against education, the press, art and images, films, broadcast media, and the Internet. The problem is not only one of actual censorship. The shadow of fear cast by these pressures leads, we suspect, to an even larger voluntary curtailment of expression by those who seek to avoid controversy or unwelcome scrutiny by government officials. ` Such pressure toward conformity is perhaps natural to a time of accelerated change. And yet suppression is never more dangerous than in such a time of social tension. Freedom has given the United States the elasticity to endure strain. Freedom keeps open the path of novel and creative solutions, and enables change to come by choice. Every silencing of a heresy, every enforcement of an orthodoxy, diminishes the toughness and resilience of our society and leaves it the less able to deal with controversy and difference. Now as always in our history, reading is among our greatest freedoms. The freedom to read and write is almost the only means for making generally available ideas or manners of expression that can initially command only a small audience. The written word is the natural medium for the new idea and the untried voice from which come the original contributions to social growth. It is essential to the extended discussion that serious thought requires, and to the accumulation of knowledge and ideas into organized collections. We believe that free communication is essential to the preservation of a free society and a creative culture. We believe that these pressures toward conformity present the danger of limiting the range and variety of inquiry and expression on which our democracy and our culture depend. We believe that every American community must jealously guard the freedom to publish and to circulate, in order to preserve its own freedom to read. We believe that publishers and librarians have a profound responsibility to give validity to that freedom to read by making it possible for the readers to choose freely from a variety of offerings. The freedom to read is guaranteed by the Constitution. Those with faith in free people will stand firm on these constitutional guarantees of essential rights and will exercise the responsibilities that accompany L these rights. We therefore affirm these propositions: 1. It is in the public interest for publishers and librarians to make available the widest diversity of views and expressions, including those that are unorthodox, unpopular, or considered dangerous by the r—, majority. Creative thought is by definition new, and what is new is different. The bearer of every new thought is a rebel until that idea is refined and tested. Totalitarian systems attempt to maintain themselves in power by the ruthless suppression of any concept that challenges the established orthodoxy. The power of a democratic system to adapt to change is vastly strengthened by the freedom of its citizens to choose widely from among conflicting opinions offered freely to them. To stifle every nonconformist idea at birth would mark the end of the democratic process. Furthermore, only through the constant activity of weighing and selecting can the democratic mind attain the strength demanded by times like these. We need to know not only what we believe but why we believe it. 2. Publishers, librarians, and booksellers do not need to endorse every idea or presentation they make available. It would conflict with the public interest for them to establish their own political, moral, or aesthetic views as a standard for determining what should be published or circulated. Publishers and librarians serve the educational process by helping to make available knowledge and ideas required for the growth of the mind and the increase of learning. They do not foster education by imposing as mentors the patterns of their own thought. The people should have the freedom to read and consider a broader range of ideas than those that may be held by any single librarian or publisher or government or church. It is wrong that what one can read should be confined to what another thinks proper. 3. It is contrary to the public interest for publishers or librarians to bar access to writings on the basis of the personal history or political affiliations of the author. No art or literature can flourish if it is to be measured by the political views or private lives of its creators. No society of free people can flourish that draws up lists of writers to whom it will not listen, whatever they may have to say. 4. There is no place in our society for efforts to coerce the taste of others, to confine adults to the reading matter deemed suitable for adolescents, or to inhibit the efforts of writers to achieve artistic expression. To some, much of modern expression is shocking. But is not much of life itself shocking? We cut off literature at the source if we prevent writers from dealing with the stuff of life. Parents and teachers have a responsibility to prepare the young to meet the diversity of experiences in life to which they will be exposed, as they have a responsibility to help them learn to think critically for themselves. These are affirmative responsibilities, not to be discharged simply by preventing them from reading works for which they are not yet prepared. In these matters values differ, and values cannot be legislated; nor can machinery be devised that will suit the demands of one group without limiting the freedom of others. 5. It is not in the public interest to force a reader to accept the prejudgment of a label characterizing any expression or its author as subversive or dangerous. The ideal of labeling presupposes the existence of individuals or groups with wisdom to determine by authority what is good or bad for others. It presupposes that individuals must be directed in making up their minds about the ideas they examine. But Americans do not need others to do their thinking for them. 6. It is the responsibility of publishers and librarians, as guardians of the people's freedom to read, to contest encroachments upon that freedom by individuals or groups seeking to impose their own standards or tastes upon the community at large; and by the government whenever it seeks to reduce or deny public access to public information. It is inevitable in the give and take of the democratic process that the political, the moral, or the aesthetic concepts of an individual or group will occasionally collide with those of another individual or group. In a free society individuals are free to determine for themselves what they wish to read, and each group is free to determine what it will recommend to its freely associated members. But no group has the right to take the law into its own hands, and to impose its own concept of politics or morality upon other members of a democratic society. Freedom is no freedom if it is accorded only to the accepted and the inoffensive. Further, democratic societies are more safe, free, and creative when the free flow of public information is not restricted by governmental prerogative or self - censorship. 7. It is the responsibility of publishers and librarians to give full meaning to the freedom to read by providing books that enrich the quality and diversity of thought and expression. By the exercise of F this affirmative responsibility, they can demonstrate that the answer to a "bad" book is a good one, the answer to a bad" idea is a good one. The freedom to read is of little consequence when the reader cannot obtain matter fit for that readers purpose. What is needed is not only the absence of restraint, but the positive provision of opportunity for the people to read the best that has been thought and said. Books are the major channel by which the intellectual inheritance is handed down, and the principal means of its testing and growth. The defense of the freedom to read requires of all publishers and librarians the utmost of their faculties, and deserves of all Americans the fullest of their support. We state these propositions neither lightly nor as easy generalizations. We here stake out a lofty claim for the value of the written word. We do so because we believe that it is possessed of enormous variety and usefulness, worthy of cherishing and keeping free. We realize that the application of these propositions may mean the dissemination of ideas and manners of expression that are repugnant to many persons. We do not state these propositions in the comfortable belief that what people read is unimportant. We believe rather that what people read is deeply important; that ideas can be dangerous; but that the suppression of ideas is fatal to a democratic society. Freedom itself is a dangerous way of life, but it is ours. This statement was originally issued in May of 1963 by the Westchester Conference of the American Library Association and the American Book Publishers Council, which in 1970 consolidated with the American Educational Publishers Institute to become the Association of American Publishers. Adopted June 25, 1953, by the ALA Council and the AAP Freedom to Read Committee; amended January 28, 1972; January 16, 1991; July 12, 2000; June 30, 2004. A Joint Statement by., American Library Association (/) Association of American Publishers (http://wvvw.publishers.org/) r� Subsequently endorsed by: American Booksellers for Free Expression (http://www.bookweb.org/abfe) The Association of American University Presses (http://www.aaupnet.orgn The Children's Book Council (http://www.cbebooks.org/) Freedom to Read Foundation (http://www.ftrf.org) National Association of College Stores (http://www.nacs.org/) National Coalition Against Censorship (http://www.ncac.org/) National Council of Teachers of English (http://www.ncte.org/) The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression From: Amy Murrell Haunold To: City Council Subject: Regarding censorship of Library materials. Date: Wednesday, November 3, 20214:11:17 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. To the city council' Please be aware of my displeasure at hearing this council is attempting to violate my 1st Amendment US Constitutional rights. I highly disapprove of your egregious overreach of your duties in this matter. It is not a 'slippery slope' as described in the newspaper. It's a blatant violation of my rights and the rights of every citizen in this city. You do not decide what I can or can not read. I do. If any council member thinks this suppression of the free exchange of ideas, whether verbal or written, is within their duties as a city council member, they are sadly uninformed of the basis of our Constitution and is not fit for public office. I urge you to dismiss them. If not, perhaps they should read up on the US Constitution. There are some good books on it, assuming they have a library card. Regards, Amy Murrell-Haunold 23 year Kenai resident 43 year Alaskan resident Natural born American f I From: Genova Brookes Boyd To: City Council Subject: Support for Ordinance No. 3248-2021 Date: Wednesday, November 10, 20211:25:45 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. To Whom it May Concern, I am writing to offer my whole hearted support for Ordinance No. 3248-2021: Accepting and Appropriating a Collection Equity Award from the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) Region 5 for the purchase of Health and Wellness titles for the Kenai Community Library Collection. Libraries are at the forefront of providing free and equitable access to information to members of the community. In this vein, the Kenai Community Library Director, Ms. Katja Wolfe, and her professional staff, are tasked with creating an equitable and relevant Library collection, and are very well qualified and experienced to do so. This grant is an opportunity to provide the Kenai Library with a robust collection in the form of several titles which serve many diverse members of its community. In Support of this Ordinance, I would like to respond to several comments made during the Kenai City Council meeting (October 20, 2021) as follows: With regard to comments made by Ms. Sharon Efta of Kenai; Librarianship does not endorse the "rubber stamping" of any titles purchased for a Library "without knowing anything about them." Director Wolfe and her professional staff have been employed as honorable representatives of their profession and should be trusted to select titles for the Library that best represent the community's needs. With regard to comments made by Mr. Dave Peck of Kenai that "equity causes division" and that titles chosen under the auspices of this grant may not serve underrepresented communities in Kenai; I would like to point out that the Library seeks to acquire consumer health titles, titles on stress relief, self-care, mental heath, healthy habits, chronic conditions, dealing and living with chronic stress, caregiver support resources, suicide prevention, traditional medicine, traditional knowledge, non-western medical research, reference resources regarding Medicare and Medicaid, titles on health literacy, items on specific conditions such as ADHD and Cancer, etc., and resources for men's health and women's health. Perhaps Mr. Peck and other concerned constituents could suggest which traditionally underrepresented groups are not covered by this extensive list of topics. With regard to a general misunderstanding (especially expressed by Ms. Christine r Hutchison of Kenai) that grant money provided by the NNLM was federally funded, I would like to acknowledge the calm clarity provided by Councillor Pettey, who did indeed correctly state that the grant money provided is not from federal funding. Nevertheless, even federal funding provided to Libraries is not (as previously quoted by Ms. Efta) a "rubber stamp" on any acquisitions requested. Acquisitions are still subject to a rigorous overview and processing by qualified and experienced Librarians and professionals who have comprehensive understanding of community needs and the expectations of their profession. Ms. Hutchison suggested that there were already titles in the Library which cover the aforementioned topics and that new titles were not necessary for the Library's collection. However, Ms. Hutchison did not demonstrate understanding of the scope of the existing collections or the recurring collection needs of the Library; any possible lack of equitability or diversity of existing sources; recent developments in the key research areas; or the condition of the current materials. Ms. Hutchison then suggested that there should be an inventory of existing Library materials to prevent overlap between existing titles and new acquisitions. I would like to point her, and any others concerned, to the Library catalog which is available to the public for comparative overview at any time. It is also worth mentioning that Libraries often purchase multiple copies of titles to provide equitable access to resources that are in demand. The one correct statement of note, (which Ms. Hutchison did consider), was related to the fundraising capacity of the Library and its community. I hope that the response of the Kenai community in raising several thousand additional dollars through a GoFundMe in support of acquiring titles on the aforementioned topics, sends a clear sign to Ms. Hutchison and the Council regarding the "consensus" of its local community on this matter. It seems that the community has strong opinions regarding the City Council's screening of books made available at the Library. I was particularly concerned with comments made by Councillor Winger who suggested that the NNLM provided information resources primarily devoted to the topic of the COVID-t9 pandemic and nothing more of relevance to specific health related subjects as requested by the Library. I would like to refer Councillor Winger back to the NNLM website which hosts information on several relevant topics, specifically: health literacy; digital health literacy; consumer health; Diversity Equity and Inclusion in medicine and health; community health and wellness, specific health conditions and concerns (including heart diseases, substance abuse disorders and inherited diseases, amongst others); mental health; nutrition; and medical financial L assistance. Included amongst many resources are also resources on COVID, for which I for one am grateful, since we happen to be in the midst of a pandemic. r I was amused by the following Ordinance 3249-2021 for the American Library Association `NASA at my Library' Program Initiative funding, which was voted in unanimously. Apparently, a detailed list of resources and services was not required for this approval. No Councillor or constituent seemed to have concerns with the intended purpose of NASA or its status as a federally funded organization. There was little doubt that NASA's content was adequate enough to implement STEM programming, and it appears that trust is restored to the Library to see this initiative through. How ironic. I would like to conclude with a final appeal to the Council to allow this Ordinance to pass and to approve the funding to the Kenai Library. Health and Wellness resources are much needed in the Kenai community and beyond. I'd also like to add appreciative words for Mayor Gabriel, Councillor Pettey and Councillor Glendening who showed consistent support of the Library and respect for the advanced qualifications and experience of its Director and her professional staff. Their advocacy for Intellectual Freedom and their support for Librarians as informed advocates for information access is commendable. Yours Sincerely, t: Genova Brookes Boyd Collection Development and Engagement Library/ Prof. Library Science University of Alaska, Fairbanks. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this letter are solely those of the Individual and do not necessarily represent those of University of Alaska, Fairbanks and its employees. ♦-� From: Henry Knackstedt To: Jamie Heinz Cc: Glenese Pettev Subject: Fw: Library grant list delay Date: Friday, November 12, 20216:07:52 PM Jamie Please include with the library resolution Henry From: Lorrene Forbes <ml4bsalaska@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, November 12, 20215:03:02 PM To: Henry Knackstedt Subject: Library grant list delay CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Dear Mr. Knackstedt, I'm way behind but I appreciate your speaking up for the library director and staff in the purchase of new books for the collection. You hire people with the education and credentials and let them do theirjob. Locating grant opportunities, applying and using these extra funds is a valid and appreciated part of their job. I have been a member of the Friends of the Library, my husband served on the board when the new library was first built, I served several terms on the Library Commission and we have been regular users since we moved here in 1971. I have never seen administration or Council provide oversight of collection additions. Our librarians monitor book usage, client needs and requests, whatever indicators to help keep the collection up-to-date. They order according to standards developed for libraries to serve all members. We do not need the knee jerk reaction to the word "equity" in the grant title to have community and Council members wanting ordering oversite and censorship. Looking at what is happening around the country and even in our school district demonstrates what a "slippery slope" it can be. I noticed when viewing the meeting no one ironically objected to accepting the NASA grant. The Council has no need to duplicate the work of our library staff as they have their own defined job which is to accept the grant and move on and not waste time. I will be my own censor for myself and family. I'm sorry the Council felt they had to put a knot in the library's use of grant money. 1 appreciate your speaking honestly and reasonably. Thank you Lorrene Forbes 612 Cedar Drive Sent from my Wad LJ From: Brian G. Gabriel. Sr. To: Jamie Hein Cc: Meahan Thibodeau Subject: Fwd: kenai city coundl action on library grant Date: Thursday, November 18, 20218:58:33 AM Jamie, Please include the attached correspondence in our December 1 st meeting packet. Thanks, Brian Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: "Brian G. Gabriel, Sr." <bgabriel@kenai.city> Date: November 18, 2021 at 8:56:58 AM AKST To: karen jensen <kljensen64@gmail.com> Subject: Re: kenai city council action on library grant Karen, Since this item was postponed at the meeting before new Council Members took their seats, it will be re -introduced at our fust meeting in December. I will ask our clerk to include your comments in our packet. Thanks for reaching out, Brian Sent from my iPhone On Nov 18, 2021, at 7:57 AM, karen jensen <k1jensen64@gmail.com> wrote: CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: karen jensen <kljensen64 c�gmail.com> Date: Thu, Nov 18, 2021 at 7:54 AM ' Subject: kenai city council action on library grant To: <city_council@kenai.city> r— Dear Kenai City Council Members: Greetings. I am the Director of Libraries at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and also a member of the National Network Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) Region 5 Executive Committee. Let me be crystal clear that the opinions expressed here are mine alone and I am not speaking as an official representative of either organization, but I offer that information because it indicates to some extent, my background and knowledge on the subject of library collection grants, and in particular, the NNLM library grant award that was rejected by the Kenai City Council. I'm writing to you today to express my concerns over the Council action that was taken against the Kenai library's NNLM grant award. Libraries of all types currently face strained budgets and we do all we can to seek other funding sources, so that we can provide the best service and resources to our library patrons. This is not unusual or objectionable in any way, and in fact is an expectation. The funds are carefully considered, the grant applications are read in detail, so that we know what we are obligated to do and what we must report on each award. Professional librarians such as your Kenai City Library Director, are qualified to both make these grant applications, and make subject and title selections for their collections using those f funds. It is completely objectionable for anyone outside of the library to dictate specific titles or approve individual resources, without the professional background to understand collection development ! policies, procedures, and the scope of the collection, as well as the information needs of all local residents. Consider thanking your librarian for the excellent work she is doing to extend limited local funds. The National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) have existed for decades. The NLM created the most critical biomedical scientific database out there - PubMed (Medline). The NNLM's mission is to ensure that accurate and current medical and health information is available to everyone. This small grant is part of that effort. Listen to your experts who have served your community for a long time, before taking action. They know what they're doing, and listening to them before responding will give you a chance to learn how government works. Your job as a council is to support that government activity and provide wise council, not to tear it apart. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Karen Jensen Fairbanks, Alaska klj n n64 , gmail.com Kenai City Council 210 Fidalgo Ave. Kenai, AK 99611 FRIENDS OF THE KENAI COMMUNITY LIBRARY P.O. BOX 656 KENAI, AK 99611 November 22, 2021 Subject: Friends of the Kenai Community Library Letter of Support for the "Library Collection Equity Wellness Titles" Ordinance. Dear Council Members, We, the Friends of the Kenai Community Library Board of Directors, submit this letter in support of the "Library Collection Equity Wellness Titles" Ordinance: "Accepting and Appropriating a Collection Equity Award from the Network of the National Library of Medicine Region 5 for the Purchase of Health and Wellness Titles for the Kenai Community Library Collection." a As many of you know, the Friends of the Kenai Community Library is a private, 501(c)(3), non-profit organization. Our mission is "to conduct activities that promote literacy and reading by creating an awareness of services provided by the Kenai Community Library." We likewise operate "to support superior library service[s] in the community" through "advocacy [for] public and private support of library growth and improvement, encouragement of volunteer involvement in library programs, and acquisition of funds to supplement the library's core annual budget." I In keeping with our mission, we ask the Council to adopt the "Library Collection Equity Wellness Titles" Ordinance. We also implore the Council to refrain from reviewing the titles of books/resources to be purchased with the Ordinance's awarded grant funds. Conditioning the Ordinance's adoption upon such a review is both improper and dangerous. As a matter of importance, we fully acknowledge the Council's prerogative and duty to evaluate the propriety of accepting grant funds awarded to the City. Similarly, we fully support the democratic process of open dialogue and debate within a transparent community forum when it comes to deciding whether the Council ought to accept grant funds awarded to the City. However, we believe the Council would be going too far by predicating its adoption of the "Library Collection Equity Wellness Titles" Ordinance upon a meritorious review of the books/resources to be purchased. Page 1 of 4 First, requiring the Library Director to divulge a prospective list of titles as a r condition of accepting the Ordinance's awarded grant funds is not only unprecedented, but unwarranted. The discretionary authority to oversee library collection development and maintenance is vested in the Kenai Library Director. Library collection development and maintenance is one of the Kenai Library Director's essential duties and responsibilities. To our knowledge, the Council has never sought to second-guess or otherwise interfere directly with the Kenai Library Director's discretionary authority in this manner. There is no reason to do so now. Second, we affirm that the Kenai Library Director enjoys a presumption of regularity when it comes to the execution of the discretionary authority entrusted to her. This presumption also extends to the execution of her essential duties for purposes of overseeing library collection development and maintenance. This means that, absent evidence to the contrary, the Kenai Library Director is presumed to execute her discretionary authority and responsibilities properly. To our knowledge, no fact or allegation has been levied against the Kenai Library Director so as to rebut this presumption. Furthermore, no fact or allegation exists so as to call into question the Kenai Library Director's ability to exercise her discretionary authority and responsibilities properly when it comes to purchasing materials in accordance with this particular Ordinance's awarded grant funds. The Kenai Library Director should be permitted to perform the duties entrusted to her. Third, we implore the Council to reflect upon the harmful implications that would stem from a decision to review a list of titles. Such action would be unfairly arbitrary. This is true both in a general sense and in a specific sense. e Generally, the Council's decision to do this would be unfairly arbitrary because no good reason has been articulated to justify second-guessing the Kenai Library Director's discretionary authority and responsibilities regarding the materials to be purchased. Why does the Council feel it cannot trust the Kenai Library Director to execute her duties faithfully with respect to this Ordinance's awarded grant funds? What cause or reason has been put forth to question the Kenai Library Director's ability to fulfill her duties and obligations when it comes to obtaining additional resources for our Community Library? How does the nature, topic, or purpose of this Ordinance's awarded grant funds in any way cast doubt or suspicion upon the Kenai Library Director's ability to execute the duties and responsibilities entrusted to her when it comes to library collection development and maintenance? There are no good answers to these questions, and so a decision by the Council to review a list of titles as a condition of adopting the Ordinance would be unfairly arbitrary. Specifically, the Council's decision to do this would be unfairly arbitrary as applied because this would mean that the "Library Collection Equity Wellness Titles" Ordinance is being singled -out and scrutinized for its subject -matter. During the City Council Meeting held on October 20, 2021, it was requested that the Kenai Library Director provide a list of titles to be purchased with the Ordinance (then designated as Ordinance No. 3248-2021), thereby conditioning the Ordinance's adoption upon review of the prospective titles to be purchased. Then, turning to the very next ordinance on the Council's Agenda; namely, Ordinance No. 3249-2021 - Page 2 of 4 "Accepting and Appropriating Funding from the American Library Association for the Kenai Community Library's Participation in the NASA@ My Library Programming Initiative," the Council announced its unquestioning support for the awarded grant funds and promptly adopted Ordinance No. 3249-2021. In so doing, the Council approved the earmarking of $500 from the NASA@ My Library Programming Initiative's funds for the acquisition of library books. Why does the Council believe it is necessary to review a list of titles to be purchased with the grant money awarded under the "Library Collection Equity Wellness Titles" Ordinance, when no such review of prospective titles was required before passing Ordinance No. 3249-2021? Why is the acquisition of library materials about NASA and planetary science something that can be entrusted to the discretion of the Kenai Library Director without Council oversight or review, but not when it comes to the acquisition of library materials about health, wellness, and medicine? Pursuing such conduct is demonstrably arbitrary because it would result in disparate treatment of the "Library Collection Equity Wellness Titles" Ordinance, and it is plain that such disparate treatment would be founded upon a partisan - based, normative evaluation of the subject -matter associated with the materials to be purchased. This is wrong. Fourth, a decision by the Council to review a list of titles as a condition of adopting the "Library Collection Equity Wellness Titles" Ordinance would run contrary to the principles governing library collection development and ' maintenance as enshrined within the Kenai Municipal Code. Under the Municipal Code's list of Kenai Community Library Policies, the book selection sub -policy's t preamble recognizes "the pluralistic nature of this community and the varied backgrounds and the needs of the citizens," such that the "[s]election of books and/or other library materials shall be made on the basis of their value of interest, information, and enlightenment of all the people of the community." With the authority to select books and/or other library materials being "vested in the librarian[,]" the book selection policy goes on to declare that "[n]o book and/or library material shall be excluded because of the race, nationality[,] or the political or social views of the author." In this same vein, the policy declares that "censorship is a purely individual matter ... and that while anyone is free to reject for himself books of which he does not approve, he cannot exercise this right of censorship to restrict the freedom to read to others." The policy continues by declaring its defense of "the principles of the freedom to read ... and that whenever censorship is involved[,] no book and/or library material shall be removed from the library save under the orders of a court of competent jurisdiction." The book selection policy then concludes by adopting and incorporating by reference "The Library Bill of Rights" and "The Freedom to Read Statement adopted by the American Library Association." We encourage the Council to review these enumerated policies within the Kenai Municipal Code, and - in accordance with these enumerated policies - refrain from reviewing titles of prospective materials prior to adopting the "Library Collection Equity Wellness Titles" Ordinance. Page 3 of 4 , Fifth, and finally, we support a Kenai Community Library that is robust, diverse, and multi -faceted when it comes to the information, materials, and resources made available to the public. This is best in keeping with providing a forum for the free and unfettered marketplace of ideas, while simultaneously providing information to the public free of partisan oversight and prejudicial limitation. The Council's apparent plan to engage in a conditional, review -based screening of titles to be purchased before adopting the "Library Collection Equity Wellness Titles" Ordinance is not in keeping with these goals. Thank you for the opportunity to voice our support in favor of the "Library Collection Equity Wellness Titles" Ordinance! Please demonstrate your support for the Kenai Community Library by adopting this Ordinance, and by refraining from the review of any books/resources to be purchased with the Ordinance's awarded grant funds! Sincerely, The Friends of the Kenai Community Library Board of Directors Page 4 of 4