LIBERTY LAKE, Wash. — Concern is rising over the future of the Liberty Lake Library.
Earlier this month, the city council decided to not reappoint a board member, This along with changes to developments on the new library building and funding have sparked controversy.
“I was hoping that we would not be in this situation again and bringing attention to our library in the way it has,” said Brad Hamblet, the library board chair.
Approximately a year ago, Liberty Lake City Council approved a contentious ordinance giving the council more authority over the library. Although community members have raised concerns over the future implications it could have, Mayor Kris Kaminskas feels it has had a minimal impact.
“It has been a year since that has been put in place,” Kaminskas said. “There haven’t been any book reconsiderations even brought to the library director.”
The council approved two new members to the Board of Trustees Tuesday. However, a recent vote to remove Kim Girard from the board has sparked backlash with many saying there’s a lack of transparency.
“This particular action by the council kind of opened up some wounds,” Hamblet said. “I think about what had happened previously.
Mayor Kaminskas says the process used to appoint board members has been consistent for more than two decades, but she acknowledges this decision was abrupt.
“There was no discussion before the vote,” she said. “Usually when there’s no votes, you find out why. Usually the council will come forward and say for the vote why. That’s one of the reasons I’m considering bringing Kim back in January.”
For Hamblet, these decisions regarding the library’s future are concerning but something he believes need to be perceived through.
“You try to work towards the best outcomes that you can achieve. Certainly our citizens have demonstrated that over and over and over again their desire for a bigger library,” he said.
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