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Residents and business group press Lincoln council on library content and contracting transparency
Summary
Two members of the public used the open microphone to urge council action: a longtime teacher criticized young-adult library selections including a Heartstopper volume and asked the council to investigate city libraries; the Lincoln Independent Business Association raised allegations about recent city contracting practices and disqualification of local bidders, saying an awarded contract was $4.3 million higher than the lowest bid.
At the open-microphone portion of the Dec. 15 Lincoln City Council meeting, two speakers raised sharply contrasting public concerns that the council did not act on during the session.
Ellie Palmer, a teacher who said she lives at 1615 South 6th Street and represents youth in the South near South neighborhood, told the council she reviewed the South Branch library’s young-adult shelves after her 12-year-old granddaughter checked out Volume 5 of Heartstopper (Alice Oseman). Palmer described the volume’s content as inappropriate for young readers and criticized what she described as a lack of classic literature on the branch’s YA shelf. She asked the council to "aid me in my further investigation of the rest of city libraries" and to consider removing titles she judged unsuitable from young-adult shelves.
Lincoln Zier, representing the Lincoln Independent Business Association, told the council LEBA members were concerned about recent contracting decisions. He said bidders fear that challenging contract awards could jeopardize future opportunities and alleged a pattern that reduces fair competition. Zier cited one project where three Lincoln-based bidders were disqualified and said the ultimately awarded contract was about $4,300,000 higher than the lowest bidder. He urged the council to consider fairness, transparency and consistent scoring in procurement and warned that perceived favoritism could discourage local firms from bidding on city projects.
What was said (selected quotes) "If my granddaughter were queer, this book would have been insulting to her," Ellie Palmer said about Heartstopper, adding that she found much of the young-adult shelf lacking in what she described as durable literature.
"Why was a contract awarded that is $4,300,000 higher than the lowest bidder, and why were three local bidders disqualified?" Lincoln Zier asked, saying local businesses are concerned that inconsistent scoring and perceived predetermined outcomes undermine competition.
Council response and next steps The transcript records both speakers’ remarks and the council’s acknowledgement; no formal response, investigation directive, or follow-up timeline is recorded in the meeting audio. The meeting adjourned at the conclusion of public comment. Neither staff nor council members provided a substantive reply to either speaker on the record during this session.
Ending Both statements were entered during the open microphone period; the council did not take action during the meeting on either request and adjourned after public comment.
