If your conception of a library board meeting is one of a group of bookworms conducting the session in an orderly manner, that would not describe the end of the Hamilton East Library Board meeting held at the Fishers Library Thursday afternoon. One attendee, who had just spoken during the public comment period, was ordered removed from the meeting room by Board President Laura Alerding for what she described as disruptions.
The man Alerding ordered removed refused police requests to leave the room and was taken away by officers. As the man was being taken away, the audience began to grow loud in protest. Alerding spoke with legal counsel, then ordered the meeting adjourned before public comments were completed. The public comments were the final item on the agenda.
Before all this happened, there was another pointed discussion between board member Ray Maddalone and Library Director Edra Waterman. Maddalone complained about the pace of reviewing books to determine whether they belong in the teen or adult collection. Maddalone said the 3% progress is not fast enough. Waterman responded that the library staff and extra reviewers hired for this project are doing this project as quickly as possible and she is constantly looking for ways to speed the process.
Maddalone suggested library staff members be offered $5 each to review books when not busy, and Waterman asserted her staff does not have that kind of down time to do this.
There was also a discussion of the Human Library event held July 15 that drew a large crowd, with book authors verbally talking with local people to exchange ideas, exposing people to situations unlike their own.
Board member Micah Beckwith, joining the meeting virtually, wanted to know if the Human Library was promoting prostitution. Waterman assured him it was not. Board Vice President Michelle Payne said the human Library does feature authors that have experienced being sex workers against their will, but in no way promoted prostitution.
Payne then asked why the board meetings were moved from 6:15pm to 3:15pm. Alerding said one board member had a conflict, and indicated there would be a lower chance of disruptions at a 3:15pm meeting.
Earlier in the meeting, Mike Reuter reviewed the income projections for Hamilton East Library System (with libraries in Fishers and Noblesville). He says the 2024 budget outlook is good, but if the General Assembly keeps the rules as they are, there could be lower income in the following two years. But he added the Hamilton East Library is in a strong cash position to weather that possible storm.
Several members of the meeting audience brandished signs in support of Library Director Edra Waterman. This is in response to rumors Ms. Waterman’s job could be in jeopardy. There was no discussion about that during the Thursday meeting.
(NOTE: as of 8:30am Friday I am turning off comments for this post)
Thanks for covering this, Larry. I couldn’t make it due to work commitments. That’s bothersome that Alerding feels moving meetings to midday will lessen disruptions. I’m assuming she is hoping less people on hand to watch a public meeting, which is the opposite of a being transparent.
Was there any mention of it being Alerding’s last meeting since her term expires in August?
No, but the meeting did end abruptly
Thanks, Larry, covering these things can be a grind and I’m glad someone is doing it.
I am curious to know what the fellow who was led off was going on about. I can’t be sure from the post itself.
He dropped books on the floor, it made a loud noise, he said something which led to the order to remove him for being disruptive. He had just spoken during public comment.
After Alerding said he was destroying tax payer property, he said that some of the books were his own, which they were. He said nothing disruptive and did nothing wrong.
Appreciate your coverage Larry! I was watching the zoom from work but the audio was awful so I missed many details. Thanks for being our eyes and ears on the ground!
What good does banning books do when any kid can go online and watch or read or listen to anything he/she wants? Banning books is a waste of taxpayers’ money. It also collectively makes us all look like a bunch of backward morons.
Exactly. But according to Tiffanie Ditlevson, who is also running for Fishers City Council, our library’s new book “moving” policy is just the first or start of other libraries following suit. She sees this egregious waste of our taxpayer funds as quite an achievement on her part.
Adam Crouch who caused the scene is a Democratic activist who does not even reside in the HEPL district. Neither does his leftist girlfriend. This is where the left is today. Seriously a Library meeting? Where were people when they decided previously to spend 22 million on a not needed face lift for the 2 buildings. 2nd time they had to remove biligerent leftist. Not nice people.
If rightest would stop trying to ban books at our PUBLIC libraries, no one would have to protest.
Why in the world would make Micah Beckwith think that the Human Library event was promoting prostitution? If he actually was concerned then he would know that this is a program that started in Demark 23 yrs ago because he would have researched the program. But instead his constant obsession with sex is extremely troublesome. I have teen readers. I know what they are reading because I ask. One of my teens doesn’t go anywhere without a book. The library and books have been a part of my childrens lives since they were small. Weekly visits for books, games, movies, playing with the toys, reading to dogs, local art shows, buying used books from the Friends of the Library, Escape room events, studying with peers, and tutoring sessions. Just to name a few. Never once in the 16yrs I’ve lived in this community has my children picked up an inappropriate book in the children’s section or the teen section. Never in my entire life of being a public library card holder of every community I’ve lived in have I came across an inappropriate book at the library. Going to the library was something i did with my mother as a small child and I continued that tradition on to my children and I hope they continue it with theirs. Books have always been a precious commodity in my life. An adventure on every page. Gaining knowledge. Teaching me compassion and empathy for the plight of others, there’s a lesson to be learned in every book I’ve ever opened. It’s very disheartening to see the attack on this public institution that’s been around for centuries. If Children are being exposed to inappropriate things it’s not at a public library. They are not banning a books BUT they are participating in the censorship of books. Even moving books is censorship. Taking away any access to a book is censorship. I thought this was a free country? The first library was founded by Benjamin Franklin. If parents truly care and want to know what their children are reading they should just ask them and, they should supervise your toddlers in the children’s section it’s really that simple. And if you’re involved they will know or at least question what’s appropriate and what’s not just like my teen did when I was asked if a book was appropriate.
Right On! Someone who gets it!
This is so embarrassing…
Gross over-reaction by Laura Aldering
Definitely!
Gross over-reaction by Laura Aldering.
The rioter slammed the books and the mike on the podium and said he refused to leave. The lengths these evil people will go to to keep porn on children’s shelves is astonishing
You’re an idiot
You go into that library and see if you can find any porn in the kid’s section. You’ll be there a very long time, but we will wait. Kids can access porn online, they don’t need to bother with any library anywhere. Go peddle your right wing Xtian BS some place else.
How in the world did we end up with a bunch of Karen’s on the library board?