ASHLAND — A number of Ashland County residents received a flier in the mail this week advocating for a no vote on the library levy.
“It’s time to inform the library that the voices of concerned citizens who feel strongly about protecting childhood innocence and local accountability matter. Vote no on Nov. 7,” the flier stated.
A political action committee called “Citizens for Ashland Library Accountability” produced the fliers. The PAC filed paperwork with the Ohio Secretary of State’s office on Oct. 4, 2023.
The reason the PAC is advocating against the levy, according to the flier, was the library’s decision to keep three books in the juvenile nonfiction section following a series of library board meetings in 2022.
The books, according to previous Ashland Source reporting, mainly centered on puberty. The titles were:
- “Puberty is Gross, But Also Really Awesome” by Gina Loveless
- “Own Your Period” by Chella Quint
- “Making a Baby” by Rachel Greener
The books contain illustrations of male and female genitalia.
Attendees at a July 2022 Ashland Public Library board of trustees meeting referred to the books as “pornographic.” They called on the library’s board over months of meetings to remove the books or relocate them to different sections of the library.
The board decided that moving or removing the books would constitute censorship and make books less accessible for children who may need them.
In September 2022, the library’s board made the decision to keep the books in the juvenile nonfiction section, according to previous Ashland Source reporting.
Sandra Tunnell, the library board’s president throughout the contentious meetings, remains at the board’s helm. In an Oct. 27 interview with Ashland Source, Tunnell said she hasn’t heard anything more in the past year or so from those opposed to the library’s decision.
But on Oct. 26, she said she received text messages from a slew of people about the fliers.
“It was a little bit of a shock because I thought that the matter was over, and it seemed to me that, while they weren’t happy with our answer, we had said, ‘This is our answer,’” Tunnell said.
The library’s levy
The library’s ballot levy is a renewal. It provides 27% of the library’s $2 million budget. The levy helps the library provide programming, resources and more.
“The way the state funds us is a little erratic,” Tunnell said. “We don’t have an actual number.
“We have a percentage, and it kind of depends on how everything goes, so we don’t actually know how much we’re getting from the state.”
The levy was first approved in 2009, and renewed in 2013 and 2018. Voters approved the renewals in 2013 and 2018 by over 72%.
Tunnell said she’s been grateful it’s received good support from the community.
Who’s behind the fliers?
The Citizens for Ashland Library Accountability group filing with the Secretary of State lists Karen Herod as the group’s treasurer and William Herod as its deputy treasurer.
The group has received $4,683.89 in total contributions as of Oct. 26, according to a campaign finance report.
A statement of contributions received lists $2,440.53 in donations from Karen Herod. Seth McArdle donated $1,943.36, and Burton Williams donated another $300.
The group’s paperwork also lists an in-kind contribution worth $1,600 from William Herod for graphic design of the fliers.
It spent $1,485.57 on Oct. 11 at Vista Print for the mailers, and $955.94 on Oct. 24 for postage.
Karen Herod did not answer a phone call from Ashland Source before this story was published. William Herod would not answer questions over the phone. He said he would answer questions from Ashland Source via email.
As of 5 p.m. on Friday, Ashland Source had not received Herod’s comment.
The library board responds
On Oct. 27, Tunnell said the accusations about a lack of accountability are confusing to her. She said the library board acts as a public body, so any information people want about its actions is publicly available.
Tunnell also said over the course of the conflict between the board and the public in 2022, more people supported the library’s stance on the matter than didn’t.
“We had more people talk to us and say, ‘Please keep those books there,’” Tunnell said. “They just weren’t as vocal.”
Tunnell added that the library has access to thousands of items, both physically and digitally. For her, it’s difficult to understand how three books can negate those other resources and services.
She added it makes her sad that people in this group felt the library was dismissive of their concerns.
“Really, we listened to them for months,” Tunnell said. “We talked about it as a board, we had a lot of discussion about it and we decided that the books would stay.
“If the books are a concern to you, it doesn’t mean other people don’t need them, and if the books are a concern to you, you don’t have to check them out. If it bothers you, you can walk past them.”
The state of the nation
Ashland’s library hasn’t been the only one seeing requests to remove or ban book titles.
According to a September report from PEN America, a nonprofit that advocates for free expression, the U.S. recorded 3,362 instances of book bans in public schools and libraries in the 2022-2023 academic year. That’s an increase of 33% from the 2021-2022 school year.
Forty-two percent of the 3,362 banned books in 2022-2023 centered on health and well-being. That category includes titles that deal with mental health, abuse, suicide, substance abuse and puberty and sexual health.
PEN America recorded zero book bans during 2022-2023 in the state of Ohio.
Tunnell said, in her view, the library provides so much more than books.
“It really is an important place in our community you can go… There’s nothing required of you,” Tunnell said. “You can go into the library freely and use books and materials that you need. The library staff, I think, is incredible and will help you with anything you need.
“I grew up in a library, so to me, the library has always been a crucial part of someone’s community, and to have it attacked feels wrong.”
How to vote
Voters will have a chance to approve or disapprove of the library levy’s renewal at the polls.
Early voting and absentee voting by mail began in Ohio on Oct. 11. To vote early in Ashland County, you can visit the Ashland County Board of Elections. It’s open in Ashland at 110 Cottage St.
You can also cast a ballot on Election Day, Nov. 7. You’ll need to visit your designated polling place between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 7 if you choose to vote on Election Day. You can find your polling location here: https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/toolkit/polling-location/.
For more of Ashland Source’s local elections coverage, follow this link.