Library Controversy in Iowa
Library commissioners in a predominantly conservative state have recently come face to face with the concept of “progress through cooperation.” In this context, it appears to mean aligning with the status quo, particularly regarding sensitive material for young readers.
Terry Hubbard, a member of the Sioux Center library board in Iowa, was the sole vote against retaining the book “Icebreaker,” which features a six-page graphic sex scene. Her reward for standing alone? A subtle suggestion from City Manager Scott Winja that perhaps she should resign.
If we can’t trust these individuals to shield our children from explicit content, what can we trust them with?
After the board voted 8-1 to keep the book accessible to the community, including minors, Winja wrote, “In line with our city’s motto, ‘Progress through Cooperation,’ we ask you to work together for the common good. If you find this challenging, maybe you should consider another path.”
Let’s dissect what “progress,” “cooperation,” and “everyone’s benefits” really mean in Sioux Center. It feels more like a phrase that could precede, “Don’t just be nice—show your true colors.”
It’s quite the scene. Norman Rockwell would have a tough time depicting it.
Surprisingly, I would expect a tagline like “Population: Proudly Confused” on their welcome sign. Surely those eight board members—Tara Birkenpas, Angeles Bahena, Andrew Gerinse, Logan Kasky, Brian Van Der Vliet, Lynn Van Beek, Lisa Dykstra, and Ruth Clark—would approve of such a sentiment. They chose to keep the book, and the public deserves to know who they are.
Interestingly, Mr. Clark even motioned to support the book. And here’s a twist: she’s a Christian school teacher! It seems the teachings of the Gospel couldn’t compete with the fervent advocacy of Librarian Becky Bilby, who appears to think that access to explicit adult material is a fundamental right for teenagers.
When Hubbard suggested that concerned parents attend library board meetings, Bilby promptly shut down the library completely.
“Becky has made it clear that this is a very bad idea,” Hubbard wrote to Winja. “She fears that public participation would lead to media involvement in board meetings, which could cause chaos.”
Yes, you read that right. They’ve chosen to avoid public meetings. The fear of exposure seems far greater than the prospect of disseminating pornographic content to minors.
Naturally, a few local proponents of free thought emerged to defend the decision. Kim Van Es, a former chair of the Sioux County Democratic Party, ominously claimed that “excluding particular authors and perspectives leads to authoritarianism, just like it did in Nazi Germany.” She then shifted to suggest a kind of faith imposition by Muslim-majority towns on Christians. Once the conversation settles down, of course, we need to go straight into the mind experiment involving Hitler.
But she’s a Democrat, so this is the level of reasoning we’re accustomed to.
Then, Northwestern University theology professor Jason Rief entered the discussion, saying, “I worry that the Bible might be banned next. Have you read it? It contains lewd, sexual stories, like that of Judah and Tamar.”
This is definitely something to chew on in place of the Bible.
And perhaps, Mr. Rief, you might want to revisit Romans 12:9, which states, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Clearly, that hasn’t crossed your mind.
For those in Sioux Center and Northwestern University, please just take a moment to consider it. It’s not a tall order. We advocate for the immediate resignation of everyone except Mr. Hubbard. Furthermore, Windja, Bilby, and Rief should be let go. They had one of the easiest tasks—protecting minors from explicit content—and managed to fail spectacularly at it.
If you can’t trust them to guard your children from graphic sexual material, can you trust them with anything?”
