Residents urge county to keep Brookings Public Library funding, oppose voucher plan

Multiple residents told the Brookings County Commission on Aug. 4 that the county should continue supplementing the Brookings Public Library’s budget and reject a proposed voucher program that would shift costs to county residents.

Tony Lanning, a retired Brookings Public School teacher and past president of the Friends of the Library, told commissioners the library provides countywide access to books, programs and services and is a vital community resource. “This library is a place to learn, discover, create, and connect with others, not a place that indoctrinates or grooms children,” Lanning said.

Sally Pease of Volga urged the commission not to use funding as leverage to force policy changes and criticized a parent-run book-rating service that some speakers had proposed. Pease said the library already has a written selection policy and a one-page “citizen’s request for reconsideration” form available at the library and online; she told the board the library director said no one has filed the form. Pease also stated that, according to library staff, there are 2,560 out-of-city cardholders and that a previously discussed $25,000 voucher fund would cover only a fraction of county users.

Mary Laneski referenced the library policy manual and noted South Dakota law sections cited in the meeting transcript as grounding for library selection policies and minors’ access. Asia Gustafson, the library director, reminded residents that the librarian will assist anyone who wants to use the formal reconsideration process and offered to be available after the meeting.

The commission did not take immediate action on library policy at the Aug. 4 session; commissioners and staff repeatedly encouraged residents with concerns to use the library’s policy process and to attend the library board or city council meetings that set library policy.