Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Timberland Regional Library topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Thurston County commissioners agree to circulate statement urging TRL reaffirm ALA Bill of Rights, authorize electronic signatures
Summary
Commissioners debated wording for a joint statement on Timberland Regional Library (TRL) policy, agreed on a compromise urging reaffirmation of the ALA Library Bill of Rights and authorized electronic signatures for a final five‑commissioner statement to be distributed.
Commissioners discussed a draft statement about policies at the Timberland Regional Library (TRL) and agreed to circulate a compromise text urging TRL leadership to reaffirm the American Library Association (ALA) Library Bill of Rights as binding policy.
Chair Time Enter and several commissioners said they preferred a joint statement that affirms county values without directing other counties. Commissioner Caroline Klaus and others sought language that would more forcefully reject a set of proposals circulated by a third party; other commissioners urged a statement framed as the county’s position rather than an instruction to neighboring counties.
Commissioner discussion repeatedly returned to the goal of getting all five commissioners to sign a single statement for greater impact. One proposed sentence that commissioners folded into the compromise reads: “We believe the ALA Library Bill of Rights should be reaffirmed as binding policy and affirm that the Timberland Regional Library System exists to serve all members of our communities without exception.”
The board voted to authorize electronic signatures so each commissioner could sign the agreed‑upon statement and directed staff to circulate the final version by the end of the day. Commissioners also confirmed they will circulate their own individual letters if they wish.
Next steps: county staff will finalize the compromise text, collect electronic signatures from commissioners, and distribute the county's joint statement ahead of the TRL board meeting.
