Libraries charged with providing open access to all information

Are libraries neutral? What do you think?

Depending on your background, your feelings about neutrality may be positive or negative. That seems contradictory to the very meaning of the word until you look it up in the dictionary:

neu·tral·i·ty

noun

1. the state of not supporting or helping either side in a conflict, disagreement, etc.; impartiality. synonyms: impartiality, lack of bias, lack of prejudice, objectivity, open-mindedness, disinterestedness, even-handedness, fairness, fair-mindedness, detachment.

2. absence of decided views, expression, or strong feeling.

Libraries are charged with providing open access to content from all sides of an issue. Librarians are trusted with the responsibility of helping people navigate information to make their own decisions. In that respect, libraries are neutral.

Does neutrality mean without values? Neutrality doesn’t necessarily mean passive and apathetic. The Library institution itself has values. Those values reflect a strong adherence to free speech. Librarians have personal beliefs and values, but in their role as library staff, they support the values of The Library.

Libraries do not advocate the ideas found in their collections. They do not make a political stand for or against a party, official, or candidate, whether their agendas support libraries or not. That doesn’t mean that the people who use The Library must also be neutral.

“We do not, as a library, exclusively support or favor any political party, ethnicity, religious belief, or sexual orientation over another. We do not discriminate. It does not matter the patron’s age or economic status. They can be homeless or uneducated. We treat them all well or we are not doing our job,” Library Director Ann Nichols recently said in a statement.

We are for everyone. You can count on your local library system to fulfill its mission to provide access to opportunities for discovery, connection, and lifelong learning for everyone in our community, without discrimination. For more information about public library values visit www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom.

The following classes and events take place at the East Bonner County Library District Sandpoint Branch, 1407 Cedar St. unless otherwise indicated.

East Bonner County Library District schedule

- Fridays — Explore virtual reality (reserve sessions), 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; reserve a 15-minute session in the VR room at ebonnerlibrary.org/Events on the event listing. Information: Contact the Tech Desk 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

- Fridays — RPG and MAC (Role Playing Games and Manga/Anime Club) for Teens, 3-5 p.m., in the Innovia Founda-tion Community Room B. Teens play Magic the Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, and other RPGs. Celebrate fandom at The Library. Read, write, and watch your favorite manga and anime with other enthusiasts. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1245; or kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Saturday, Sept. 7 ­— Sandpoint Friends of the Library book sale, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; support your library while supporting your book habit.

- Saturdays — Explore virtual reality (reserve sessions), 2-4 p.m.; reserve a 15-minute session in the VR room at ebonnerlibrary.org/Events on the event listing. Information: Contact the Tech Desk 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

- Monday, Sept. 9 — Open play with Legos; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Karen’s Room. This is a drop-in STEM-inspired “What can you build?” challenge. Younger children should have a parent present. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Tuesdays — Mother Goose, 10 a.m. in Karen’s Room. Stories and singing for babies and toddlers 0-3 years old and their caregivers with stay & play until 10:40 a.m. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Tuesdays — Clark Fork Mother Goose, 10:15 a.m. at the Clark Fork branch library; stories, rhymes, and music for toddlers and their caregivers followed by 20 minutes of play time. Information: 208-266-1321.

- Tuesdays — Preschool Story Time, 11 a.m., in Karen’s Room. Stories and crafts for kids and their caregivers. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Tuesdays — Clark Fork Storytime, 11 a.m., Clark Fork branch library. Stories, music, and crafts geared to ages 3-8. All welcome. Information: 208-266-1321.

- Tuesdays — Explore virtual reality (drop-in sessions), 3-6 p.m., drop-in 15-minute sessions. First come, first served. All ages welcome. Under 18 must accompany parent consent form. Youth under 10 years old must be accompanied by parent/legal guardian. Information: Tech Desk, 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

- Wednesdays — Crafts in the Garden, 2:30 p.m. in The Library Garden. A different garden-inspired craft each week. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Wednesdays — Teen Lounge Passive Pop-Up Programs, 3 p.m. in the Rotary Teen Lounge. Teen-driven art, engineering, robots, and science projects and workshops. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1245; or kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

Wednesday, Sept. 11 — 3D Printing Community 4:30-6 p.m. in the VR Room. A meet-up for 3D printing enthusiasts and people who are curious about 3D printing. Drop in and collaborate with others and learn more from staff about 3D printing and design. A few laptops will be provided or you may bring your own device. Open to all ages and skill levels. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1251.

- Friday, Sept. 13 — Spooky Stories in the Cemetery, 7 p.m. at Lakeview Cemetery, 901 S. Division. Kid-friendly, scary stories told in a real cemetery. Families are invited to share their favorite stories, as well. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211 or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Saturday, Sept. 14 — SHS eSports at The Library, 1 p.m., in the Laura Moore Cunningham Community Room A. Making eSports available to high school gamers by facilitating healthy competition on a varsity level in a comfortable environment is the mission of the HSEL. The Library is partnering with the SHS eSports team to further that mission. Information: kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Now through Sunday, Dec. 1 — Clark Fork Autumn Reading Program — for all ages. Read between Sept. 1 and Dec. 1 and record the name of each book, full magazine, or book on tape with the author’s name. For each completed item, earn a library bidding dollar for use in the Holiday Silent Auction held on Dec. 6 and 7. Information: 208-266-1321.

- Teen Lounge — Open to seventh-12th graders from any school/homeschool; Tuesdays-Thursdays until 6 p.m., and Fridays until 5 p.m. Information: kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org, or 208-263-6930, ext. 1245.

- StoryWalk — Pages from a children’s book are posted along a trail for a fun, family experience. Enjoy “Knuffle Bunny” by Mo Willems at Dover City Park and “School’s First Day of School” by Adam Rex at McNearney Park. Read, connect, and get outside at a StoryWalk, a partnership of The Library, Kaniksu Land Trust, city of Dover, and city of Ponderay. For more information, visit Facebook.com/BonnerStoryWalk.

Marcy Timblin is in charge of public relations, marketing & community development for the East Bonner County Library District. She can be reached at 208-208- 208-208-263-6930, ext. 1204.