E-book banning is seemingly welcome now in Crawford County; librarian’s severance accepted

The Crawford County Quorum Courtroom voted Tuesday night time to approve spending greater than $40,000 in alternate for the resignation of a librarian who refused to ban books.

The vote in Van Buren to disregard the First Modification of the U.S. Structure and approve a Separation Agreement with Deidre Grzymala was unanimous and in response to a right-wing wave of criticism from a supposedly non secular group whose mascot is a lion.

Whereas the alleged purpose for the buyout was that Grzymala had overspent library funds, an worker of the treasurer’s workplace reminded the justices of the peace that the observe had been occurring for years, nicely earlier than Grzymala grew to become the nation’s library director in July 2022.

The county’s lawyer, Gentry Wahlmeier, interrupted the speaker to say she shouldn’t be releasing data obtained on account of her work within the treasurer’s workplace. The lady then stop talking. Hmmm. Treasurer’s data are public data, whether or not Crawford County politicians prefer it or not.

The purpose was, after all, that the actual purpose Grzymala was fired was not monetary. That was gaslighting to distract from the reality: e book banning.

The issue was that Grzymala revered all library patrons, even these of the LGBTQ neighborhood so she supplied books they too wished to learn. That didn’t go over nicely with the brand new library board chairman, Tammi Hamby, or the frankly scary River Valley Metropolis Elders, the group with the mascot lion and a declare that the group’s “watchmen” spiritually govern the gates of the valley’s cities.

The separation settlement introduced to the Quorum Courtroom Tuesday night time can pay Grzymala $40,687.50 from county funds. That features private and sick-leave funds. The county additionally will approve her well being and dental profit premiums by means of Sept. 1.

Grzymala has beforehand declined remark, and the separation settlement strictly limits what she will say publicly.

The county’s library board has referred to as a gathering for five:30 p.m. Friday on the Van Buren library to debate the appointment of an interim director. We will make certain that particular person will know to not characteristic a single e book the “elders” dislike, although I believe titillating heterosexual romance novels are wonderful.

In March, the board is to contemplate a proposal that it evaluate the acquisition and donation of all library books. We’ll comply with up then.

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