Libraries to be used as Propaganda
Local news and the takeover of the IMLS
There’s so much going on, fast and furious. So much I care about. However, I said at the beginning that I am going to focus on one thing — sharing information about censorship in my local area, and putting it into context of the national shitshow actions of the Trump administration.
First … the local bad news. Rockingham County School Board finally voted on a few more books. The review committee, using the excessively narrow guidelines outlined in the policy adopted last year, recommended banning 3 books (Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, Tilt and Tricks, both by by Ellen Hopkins). The School Board voted to accept those recommendations, but when the committee recommended retaining three more (Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender, Fade by Lisa McMann, and The Duff by Kody Keplinger), Hollie Cave once again made the motion to ban the books anyway. The only discussion was Cave reciting page numbers, and Cave, Cross, Burgoyne and Horst all vote for the ban. Jackie Lohr again was the only one who voted to accept their own committee’s recommendation. One last book Cave proposed only keeping at the high school level (Stars in Their Eyes by Jessica Walton.
News coverage: The Harrisonburg Citizen: Rockingham school board again bucks committee recommendations as it bans 6 more books. Daily News Record: Rockingham County School Board bans 6 books from school libraries
Just to give you an idea of the type of people we are dealing with … I found this written on one of their supporters’ pages. All school board members were tagged on this post, and Cross and Cave wrote comments in support. They’ve removed their names on other posts in which I tagged them, so they know how, but they were happy to have their names attached to this. The person posting this also once followed me after a school board meeting, took a picture of my car and license plate, and shared that with some unflattering comments. Some role models, eh?
Rockingham has a School Board meeting tonight but there’s no books on the agenda, so 19 books remain locked up with no review or reason. There’s some weird shenanigans going on with the RCPS School Board over the Massanutten Technical Center, which is a joint facility with Harrisonburg City Schools. Not technically within the scope of this document, but who knows, there may be a connection. Joe Fitzgerald gives some background and asks some pertinent questions in his substack Still not Sleeping.
Meanwhile, further up the Valley
The Samuels Library in Front Royal is fighting for its life. The county appointed a library oversight board, which recommended to the county to NOT fund the library, but perhaps outsource library operations. Soon after they said that, an outside company offered an unsolicited bid to do just that. Samuels library trustees in December ruled that in the library were to vote to dissolve, all fixtures, books and furnitures that they own would go to a nonprofit of their choosing. The Warren County supervisors didn’t like that. This is an attempt to summarize the story and there’s lots more ins and outs — but basically it is a hostile takeover to control what materials are available in this library. If you live in this area, you need to be following this closely and raising bloody hell. There is a Board of Supervisors meeting tomorrow 3.26 to consider the bid. All of us should be concerned because what they do to one library — they can and will use those tactics on another. The Royal Examiner gives a good summary here. Samuels Library Pushes Forward with Celebration Despite Political Friction. From the Northern Virginia Daily : Warren supervisors to consider library bid process at Tuesday meeting
Zooming out to the National perspective.
On March 14, Trump issues another executive order that “the non-statutory components and functions of the following governmental entities shall be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law, and such entities shall reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law:” Seven agencies were listed. Number 4 was the Institute of Museum and Library Services. There’s a lot swirling around about what funding may or may not be lost, if they can dissolve the agency, but then there’s this. It is also not surprising that the takeover was planned to occur at the same time as the dismantling of the Department of Education, which has claimed the media attention, leaving the library takeover under the radar.
Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith E. Sonderling was sworn in as the Acting Director of the agency, and he made a statement that is alarming in its declaration of asserting control of IMLS for ideological support of this administration - using libraries for propaganda,.
“It is an honor to be appointed by President Trump to lead this important organization in its mission to advance, support, and empower America’s museums and libraries, which stand as cornerstones of learning and culture in our society. I am committed to steering this organization in lockstep with this Administration to enhance efficiency and foster innovation. We will revitalize IMLS and restore focus on patriotism, ensuring we preserve our country’s core values, promote American exceptionalism and cultivate love of country in future generations,” said Acting Director Sonderling.
Kelly Jensen, who has been tracking book bans and censorship issues nationwide for many years, has a must read article in Book Riot here: The Institute for Museum and Library Services Is Now a Propaganda Machine: Book Censorship News, March 21, 2025. Her conclusion is that “ IMLS will be an agency used to produce, promote, and proliferate propaganda.” Funding could be used to control what goes into collections, and new strings could be attached. If the phrase “lockstep with this administration” doesn’t give you chills, it should.
Other resources:
EveryLibrary: Statement on the Appointment of Keith E. Sonderling as Acting Director of IMLS: IMLS's mission must remain nonpartisan and nonpolitical and aligned with the statutory framework established by Congress.
American Library Association: FAQ: Executive Order Targeting IMLS
EveryLibrary Institute: Understanding IMLS's “Shall” and “May” Language
Artnet: DOGE Descends on the Institute for Museum and Library Services
Don’t sleep on this.
People to contact besides your own reps:
Congressional Joint Committee on the Library
You can contact committee representatives even if you're not a direct constituent. Start calling for reinstatement of funding for the Institute of Museums and Library Services. Inquire about the protections for the Library of Congress. Also ask about their stance on and support for public libraries, especially those in their states/districts.
Congress Phone Line: (202) 224-3121 (Ask for rep by name. If you get a human operator, request the Committee by name to be directed to their staff.)
Chair: Bryan Steil
Vice: Mitch McConnell
Republican House Members: Mike Carey, David Valadao
Democratic House Members: Joe Morelle, Julie Johnson
Rep. Senators: Deb Fischer, Cindy Hyde-Smith
Dem. Senators: Alex Padilla, Amy Klobuchar
Sorry, I haven’t even touched on censorship of government information about anyone other than a white male. If that wasn’t on your radar, here’s some background. Some websites have been restored after public outcry, but have all of them? WIll they disappear again when they think no one’s looking? AP News : The Pentagon’s DEI purge: Officials describe a scramble to remove and then restore online content
As usual, take care of yourself. Rest as needed, and remember that this is a marathon not a sprint. Show up when and where you can, make those phone calls, write those letters, and most importantly, look for places within your own community where you can either support others, or where you can receive support. It’s a two way street, or maybe a roundabout — if you need help today, it means you can survive to help someone else. You are important.
Thank you for your important work on this disheartening situation here in Virginia.