I am asking you to veto H710 and I would like to provide you with a few reasons why:

Libraries historically have been safe spaces for intellectual exploration and learning. They are staffed by competently trained individuals, from college educated librarians to supervised trained employees who work to make a library function day to day. 

Today, libraries offer more than just access to books. They provide computers, reading programs, community small group learning events, as well as larger community group events. All of these additions are designed to educate or inform our community if they desire to participate. 

Books in libraries have gone through a vetting process which has been approved by the head librarian. The elected library board is responsible for overseeing the mission of the library as well as overseeing the head librarian. Legislating a library’s book review process, criminalizing books based upon individual distaste and then fining librarians or library personnel is similar to taking away a child’s food subsidy because of their parent’s drug addiction and neglect. You are penalizing the wrong person. 

H710 makes it sound like we are now saying libraries are no longer safe spaces for children and their minds.

If libraries are no longer safe spaces for children and their minds we should insist that library boards legislate policies where no child under 16 be allowed in the library without the accompaniment of their parent or an adult. The presence of an adult chaperone should remove any concern by those not associated with the child that the child is improperly obtaining or viewing materials not condoned by their parent or guardian. 

We should trust the parents of young minds regarding their supervision of their children’s learning taking place in libraries just as much as we trust these parents with their homeschooling practices. 

This legislation is misplaced.

Library boards which contain elected members from the community are responsible for the general direction of their library. The head librarian is responsible to the library board. If the library board is not doing a good job then the board should be recalled or not re-elected when their term or terms are up. 

Why do we want to be known as a punitive state? Why do we want to hate those that strive to help or provide services to our community? This legislation reinforces that direction. Please help us make it stop. Veto H710.

Thank you for your service,

Cheri Zao, MD

Unfortunately, Governor Little signed this bill on April 10th 2024. It is now law. I am against increasing government intrusion in our lives and I support individual rights and responsibilities.