HomeMy WebLinkAboutICP Special Board Packet August 28, 2023If you will need disability-related accommodations in order to participate in this meeting, please contact Jen Miller, Iowa City
Public Library, at 319-887-6003 or jennifer-miller@icpl.org. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to
meet your access needs.
Iowa City Public Library Board of Trustees
Meeting Agenda
August 28, 2023
2nd Floor - Boardroom
Regular Meeting - 5:00 PM
Tom Rocklin - President
DJ Johnk – Vice President
Hannah Shultz-Secretary
Lucy Santos Green
Joseph Massa
Claire Matthews
Robin Paetzold
John Raeburn
Dan Stevenson
1.Call Meeting to Order.
2. Approval of August 28, 2023 Board Meeting Agenda.
3.Public Discussion.
4.Items to be Discussed.
A.Review and Consider Endorsement of Letter from Iowa City UNESCO City of
Literature.
Comment: Board action required.
5.Adjournment.
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Office of the Governor Iowa State Capitol 1007 East Grand Avenue Des Moines, IA 50319
Iowa is home to one of the most literary cities oh earth. It is here where the Iowa Writers' Workshop produced some of the greatest voices in American Literature: Frank Conroy, John Irving, Wallace Stegner, Raymond Carver, Jane Smiley, Rita Dove, Ayana Mathis, Flannery O'ConhOr, Ann Patchett,
and so many others. Iowa is also home to contemporary writers producing works of fiction and hon-fiction that are bath bold in truth-telling and revolutionary in voice.
It's because of this legacy and the dedication ofiowans to producing great writing, that Iowa City was declared a UNESCO City of Literature in 2008. Often called the "Athens of the Midwest;' Iowa City has a unique set of influential literary institutions, which explore new ways to teach and support writers. At the same time, it has long been, quite simply, a place for
writers and for readers: a haven, a destination, a proving ground, and a nursery. Iowa has a history and a.n identity in which its citizens take enormous pride, prizing a role in celebrating and honoring writers and good writing.
On May 26, Iowa's governor signed into law legislation that runs counter to that legacy. Senate File 496 prohibits books With written and visual depictions of sex acts from school libraries. The legislation also bans written materials and instruction on "gender identity" and �•sexual orientation." This law was passed under the pretense of protecting children,
and yet what this law amounts to is a book ban that limits children's freedom of expression and access to knowledge about the world around
them.
Laws that ban books run contrary to the history and legacy of Iowa as a place of great writing.
Far from corrupting children, books that teach children about sexuality protect them. The World Health Organization notes that proper sex education protects children from abuse and delivers positive health outcomes that equips them to make responsible health choices and respect others. This recommendation is backed up by three decades of extensive research that shows unequivocallythat sex education is essential for the health and well-being of children.
Bans such as Iowa's limit children's access to quality health information and breed a culture of fear for educators, institutions, and families, and hinders I earning for children. Additionally, book bans suppress student's
ability to see themselves in their own life experiences and to build empathy and understanding for others. At a time when 86% of LGBTQ+ students report being harassed or assaulted at school, this need for understanding and empathy is more important than ever.
President
Nick Kaeding
Vice President
J udlth Leavitt
Treasurer
Kellee Forkenbrock
Secretary
MaeveClark
Board
AronJ\ji
Megan Alter
Alison Ames Galstad
Venise Berry
Anna Barker
Elsworth Carman
Lal'asha Deloach
Linda Farkas
Lisa Gardinier
Jon Green,
Lyz Lenz
Karen MIiler
Caleb Rainey
Trinity Ray
Jesse Singerman
Barb Stein
Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature
123 S. Linn St.
Iowa City, IA 5240
(319)887�6100
www.iowacityofliterature.org
info@iowacityofliterature.org
Agenda Item 4A-1
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Agenda Item 4A-2
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