250 Words: Libraries

April 10, 2026.

According to Albert Einstein: “The only thing that you absolutely have to know is the location o f the library.” True Enough. But what if that library is controlled by those with a political agenda? People blinded by the certainty of their own beliefs. People who presume opinions contrary to their own shouldn’t even be considered by others.

How valuable is that library? In a world overwhelmed by Internet access, it’s odd that anyone would believe they can control the flow of ideas. Even odder they believe themselves qualified, much less entitled, to make such decisions.

Now, Republican legislators in Des Moines have muscled SF2532 through the Senate. This bill would eliminate the ability of local governments to create local health department. Don’t ask me why. Maybe anti-vaxxers? Anyway, now they’ve added a completely unrelated amendment, H-8260. Among other draconian aims, H-8260 mandates every library review every item in its collection against content standards. It would also require librarians police access to “age-appropriate” material by minors and provide annual notice to all parents and guardians. Moreover, it strips control from local library boards and forces city councils and county boards to add library governance to their workload, further politicizing library operations.

The amendment comes with no actionable guidelines and no funding for the additional costs and staff needed. It is a needless and blatantly partisan unfunded mandate. In the meantime, where are we on plugging the growing $1+ BILLION budget shortfall? The jaw-dropping cancer rates? Property tax reform? Public Education funding?