What happens when the wants of a few are prioritized over the needs and rights of the many? This is the situation that resulted when our Alpena County Board of Commissioners considered the wants, and ultimately met the demands, of a few individuals in addressing a conflict they had with our library concerning book placement.

To review, a small group of residents sought to override the decisions of the library Board of Trustees and undertook a program of in-person and social media harassment of library staff and board members to achieve their desired outcome. These actions resulted in the resignation of the librarian and threatened passage of a millage necessary for the continued operation of the library. Currently, our library is without a permanent librarian and will face significant recruitment costs. Additionally two of five library board members are vacating their positions.

These agitators follow a playbook that has been successful nationwide in closing libraries when library boards do not acquiesce to their demands. These people have an agenda to dismantle and are currently seeking positions on the library board to forward their plans.

The question now is how the commissioners will replace the departing library board members. Will they replace with individuals from this group that have an agenda or will they choose candidates demonstrating commitment to forward the success of the library? We need individuals who can be entrusted to uphold constitutional rights as well as the policies and rules of the Michigan Library Association.

If you have the opportunity, please thank the library staff and board members for upholding the standards set forth by the Michigan Library Association despite enduring almost two years of intimidation efforts.

Our commissioners need reminding that the needs of the many should always outweigh the wants of the few, or the one.

DIANE O’CONNOR,

Alpena