When does "no" not mean "no?" When Lewis County Commissioner Sean Swope embarks on a mission to reform the Timberland Regional Library system's book selection in our local libraries.
As a taxpayer and citizen, I find myself growing weary of encountering Swope's photo and weekly diatribes in the editorial pages of this newspaper. Shouldn't he, as an elected official, have more pressing matters to attend to than attempting to censor the books available on our library shelves? Are there not more significant and pressing issues in our county, such as water quality, land use, homelessness or climate change?
I recall that in the 1940s, there were instances in Europe where books were censored by being thrown onto bonfires, and history has taught us the dangerous consequences of such actions.
It appears that Mr. Swope believes that his elected office and taxpayer status grant him the authority to alter the Timberland Library Board's current policies simply because they do not align with his personal preferences or those of a small group supporting this endeavor.
I have been a resident of Lewis County for many years and have witnessed county commissioners come and go. I have worked for federal and state governments, served on a school board, taught at various educational levels, and regularly utilized the Timberland Library in Centralia. It is truly a gem and a well-utilized resource. We are fortunate to have such an excellent system locally, offering a wide array of books for our choosing, all funded by our taxes.
In conclusion, I would like to address Mr. Swope directly: I am pleased that you and your family make use of your local library. Reading is undeniably a gateway to success. When you visit with your children, it is entirely appropriate to monitor their choices, as it falls within your parental rights.
Reading together and fostering a love for books is a wonderful practice that I have followed with my own children and grandchildren. The Timberland Library System does not require a new rating system; we already have one, and it's called “parenting.”
Those of us residing in Lewis County do not need a county commissioner assuming the role of a Big Brother who decides which books are deemed suitable based on his standards.
Our freedom to read as we choose is a fundamental right protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, and it will always remain so.
Jan Leth
Centralia
