Lapeer County library board chair defends operations, cites FOIA review and confidentiality breaches

The chair of the Lapeer County library board updated the county Board of Commissioners on board activity Thursday, saying the library is operating without a director while a search continues, that legal review of records and FOIA requests has increased, and that the board has not taken action to restrict or ban books.

Why it matters: The library has been the subject of public attention and accusations about book restrictions. The library board chair told the commissioners those claims stem from a leaked document and from actions by a former director and attorney, not from a board directive.

Library board chair Carrie Coleman (meeting presentation) said the board’s search committee is working with a search firm and expects candidate interviews in the near future. Coleman said staff is maintaining services and programming while the director position is open.

Coleman described a heavier workload for legal review because of unusual and extensive FOIA requests. “Our attorney has handled a number of FOIA requests. Some of these are not typical, straightforward document requests. We're receiving demands for board member and employee emails, which require meticulous review, redaction, and legal oversight,” she said. Coleman added that closed‑session confidentiality had been breached by some persons affiliated with the library and that the board is taking steps to address inappropriate disclosures.

Coleman addressed a circulating claim that the board had restricted or banned books on LGBTQ and minority topics. “Since the beginning of the year, we have maintained full transparency with our community. Our meeting agendas, which are publicly available online, show no action items, no motions, and no board discussions about restricting or banning books on any subject,” she said. Coleman said a legal opinion produced in February about book restriction was requested by the previous director and the prior attorney, not by the current board.

Coleman also explained a change to the library board’s meeting schedule and location. After several meetings ran longer than in past years and because of concerns about the center building’s condition and scheduling conflicts, the board moved its regular meeting time to 10 a.m. on the third Thursday at the American Legion; she said the board remains open to revisiting that decision if public attendance is hindered.

Commissioners responded to Coleman's presentation with appreciation for the update and invited the chair back for future reports. Commissioner comments acknowledged the heightened public attention in local media and thanked the chair for clarifying the board’s process.

Ending: The commissioners accepted the report; no votes or directives altering library policy were taken. Coleman and commissioners said they will continue to provide updates as the director search and any internal reviews proceed.