It's hard to be surprised by headlines now-a-days.
Although, amidst an unprecedented assault on libraries & literature, this recent news from Montana seems alarming.
The Montana State Library Commission voted to withdraw from the American Library Association due to comments made by the incoming president, Emily Drabinski, who described herself as a "Marxist lesbian" in a now-deleted Tweet. The commission argued that their duty to the Constitution prevented them from associating with a Marxist-led organization.
In a release, the American Library Association offered a matter-of-fact response to the Montana state library commission's decision to withdraw. "ALA presidents are elected by its membership to serve a term of one year and make decisions facing the membership in concert with a 15-member elected executive board and a 131-member elected council," the statement notes. However, they did not go as far as to defend Drabinski, an accomplished and highly respected librarian who has since been targeted by right-wing political forces.
The Montana Library Association expressed deep regret over the commission's decision, highlighting the loss of essential training and resources for library professionals in the state. They called for reconsideration, emphasizing the importance of serving the public good and the long-term interests of all Montanans.
