The Mayor for the City of Winkler says there is concern among Council members regarding the availability of children’s materials through South Central Regional Library (SCRL) they feel contain graphic sexual pictures and text. As a result, Council has asked the SCRL Board of Directors to review its policy, or create a policy, that addresses that concern.
The move comes after Council conducted its own research on the topic, explained Siemens, which was brought before it by a group of concerned parents in December, and a second time earlier in March during the public hearing for the city's 2023 budget. The delegation's concerns are related to books and materials at SCRL it deems child pornography according to its interpretation of the Criminal Code of Canada.
Siemens pointed out, municipal councils and the SCRL Board are governed by different Provincial Acts, and therefore Council has no authority in the matter, and it wants to respect that process and the Board.
"The City of Winkler's responsibility to the library is to provide two board members and operational funding. So, for us to step into what books should or shouldn't be on the shelf, is not part of our area of responsibility or authority. As the group made a presentation specifically targeting funding (at the December 13th council meeting and March 14th financial plan public hearing), we did step into it, and did do a fair amount of research. That research led Winkler Council to become concerned with some children’s books with graphic, sexual imagery or text."
Chad Collins, Chair of the SCRL Board of Directors, says they have received Council's letter and will be forming a response to address the concerns outlined in it.
"SCRL has dedicated an extreme amount of time to review our policies and procedures, to make sure they are in line with our patrons' needs, while following the Public Library Act that governs us, and we continue to review these policies to make sure they are relevant," said Collins.
Cathy Ching, Director of Library Services, stressed that SCRL's policies are in line with other Canadian library policies.
"Our policies are developed to support our libraries, our staff and provide services to our patrons," she said. "To review them is a normal thing, whether it's every six months or every two years. That's how we are moving forward in making our libraries better."
Collins added, SCRL's policies have been reviewed on the Board's behalf by outside organizations, including Public Library Services which is part of Manitoba Sport, Culture and Heritage department of the provincial government. The branch is responsible to the minister to ensure libraries are following related laws and standards. "They (the policies) are held to a very high regard and standard," he said, adding all of SCRL's policies and procedures are available for public viewing on its website.
Moving forward, Mayor Siemens urges a respectful dialogue as the process continues with the SCRL and the concerned group of parents.
"There is a group of users who are concerned about books in the library. There's a process to appeal those books and to deal with those books, to be able to have a dialogue around it," he said. "I know sometimes, when we are dealing with things we're extremely passionate about, things we feel very personally and strongly about, it's hard to have that dialogue. But we must remember to have it (dialogue), because when we lose that respectful dialogue, we lose an ability to affect change."
In his eyes, Siemens says SCRL and the delegation have a common view, and that is parents should be the authority for what children read and do. He adds parents are the ultimate authority, and encourages them to be such, and get involved, "step into being" that authority.
"Open dialogue is always welcome at SCRL," said Collins.
He added this, in addressing the local delegation's request to remove any children's books between the ages of 0 to 17 it says contain pornography, teaches sexual touching or could be used for grooming purposes from all SCRL branches.
"By asking for banning of certain materials is now infringing on other peoples' choices and parental responsibility to have material available for their children, if it is wanted," said Collins. "SCRL does not condone child pornography and child grooming. We, as SCRL, will be the first in line to remove books from our selections if they were deemed illegal by a Court of Law."
When asked how the Board plans to move forward from this point, Collins offered this response.
"We as a Board do our best to recognize everybody's concerns, including this group's concern, but the message we want to get back out to everyone is that we, as a library, grow and change with the needs and wants of our patrons. By bringing in materials and offering resources they are asking for."
Additionally, he added, the Board has a detailed book complaint process that allows for review, and the opportunity to appeal that review, if there is a title that draws a patron's concerns.
Meantime, Mayor Siemens extended this personal message.
"I personally would like to extend a thank you to the dedicated (Library) staff who are working in extremely stressful situations as this thing plays out. It's been hard to be a staff member. The staff don't determine policy, the board determines policy. The staff show up every day to try to do their jobs the best they can, and it hasn't been an easy time. I want to encourage them, and thank them, for the work they're doing."
"It's been very hard for my frontline staff," added Ching who started to choke up as she made a plea for respect. "One of the branches got a flower bouquet and card the other day, and they were so thrilled with it, they said, 'It's sad when you fight for crumbs of happiness'. Right now, their jobs are not feeling very fulfilling, because they are constantly fighting the verbal abuse being thrown their way."
"I want to reiterate, on behalf of the Board, that we are doing our best to recognize the challenges our staff are facing on a daily basis," added Collins. "It is our staff that is the frontline, and dealing with accusations and pressures on a daily basis."