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We need excellence, not chaos for Montana's libraries – Daily Montanan [1]

['More From Author', 'November', 'Sean Anderson']

Date: 2023-11-19  

Good libraries are not just a convenience; they are fundamentally American, reflecting a commitment to knowledge, community service and progress. In Montana, where self-reliance and community values are cherished, our public libraries have long been beacons, designed to serve all Montanans.

Unfortunately, recent proposals to alter the Public Library Standards, influenced by years of mismanagement by the ImagineIF Libraries Board of Trustees, now threaten the stability of Montana’s public library system.

The recent proposal to eliminate the graduate degree requirement for library directors raises serious concerns about the future of library leadership and the services our community expects. The ImagineIF Board’s pursuit of a lower standard for their library director has now affected the State Library Commission, creating a race to the bottom that does a disservice to all Montanans.

As fiercely independent-minded Montanans, we should expect more from our public leaders. Excellence should be the standard, not a casualty in a misguided contest to waste time, money, and ink merely to denigrate a cornerstone of American democracy. The self-inflicted chaos that has plagued Flathead County’s libraries now threatens to infect each library in the state.

Public libraries are rooted in community service and are not isolated entities. Decisions made by one library’s leadership can have far-reaching consequences. As citizens who value the stability and integrity of our libraries, it is crucial that we use our voice to demand the excellence we deserve from our public services and ensure that our public libraries remain stable, reliable, and true to their mission of serving all Montanans and their communities.

The public comment period for the proposed changes to the Public Library Standards Is open through Dec. 1. Please consider sharing your thoughts. I believe the Public Library Standards should remain as they are. We should expect that the State Library Commission act in support of Montana’s libraries and library users, and not in service to their personal partisan agendas.

Your voice matters in preserving the integrity of Montana’s libraries. Together, we can safeguard the future of our libraries, reinforcing their role as beacons of knowledge and community service for all Montanans.

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[1] Url: https://dailymontanan.com/2023/11/19/we-need-excellence-not-chaos-for-montanas-libraries/

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