Orange City, Iowa — Some controversy is brewing over some books at a northwest Iowa Library.
A Northwestern College professor has drawn up and circulated a petition that has garnered over 340 signatures in nine days. Terry Chi, an assistant psychology professor at Northwestern began the petition in response to some LGBTQ materials at the Orange City Public Library. LGBTQ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning. The petition calls for the labeling and separating of LGBTQ materials and a public discussion before the acquisition of new materials.
We talked to Orange City Public Library Director Amanda Vazquez. She gives us her perspective on what’s happening.
She says that there were comments on both sides of the issue.
She tells us what happens next.
Vazquez says that while they did not feature a display on LGBTQ material specifically, they do display new materials from time to time.
She says one of the books was mentioned by name.
Vazquez says that they do have some guidance to follow.
However, the only policy that Vazquez mentioned in regard to what they can and cannot acquire is that the library will not acquire illegal material. But she was quick to say that, the amount of material that “is illegal is smaller than what people might find concerning.”
