Book Ban Rhetoric shows Rice Street Library has chosen a political stance at polling location
Update: The Display is no longer there
While the display is no longer there, they still violated the mission of the St Paul Library.
Minnesota Law that pertains to polling locations is that Electioneering (posters, campaign activists, Campaign signs) can’t be within 100 feet of the entrance doors to a polling location.
This display at Rice Street Library is right next to the polling location room, and within 10 feet of the Greeter Judge. There is no disclaimer on it saying who produced and posted it so it is assumed the Staff of Rice Street Library posted it there.
When did Public Libraries become a location for political speech? Aren’t they centers of learning? The word Public isn’t supposed to be occupied by one political party or another.
Isn’t Banning Books Wrong?
If you haven’t followed the Banned Book Issue that is ruminating at School Boards, and at the Minnesota State Legislature then you should know that books aren’t being banned but parents are upset that their children might have access to same sex recruitment books. Parents have taken to school boards and public libraries to ask certain books be restricted or not available at all to their minor children. Democrats are pushing the LGBTQaTOz Agenda and in this case they mislead the public by stating that Conservatives and Republicans are trying to ban books they are afraid of–the homophobia explanation. In some cases Schools have asked the Biden Dept of Justice to have the FBI investigate parents for being domestic terrorists. This is an absurd abuse of power.
St Paul Library Polices on Public Posting & Distribution
sppl.org/policies/public-posting-and-distribution
As you read through the policies on posting material at a library you’ll notice how many of their rules they violated in posting their display.
Rule #1 Saint Paul Public Library provides limited, designated space for community flyers, notices and posters. Posting of such materials by the Library does not indicate Library endorsement of the ideas, issues or events promoted by these materials.
Since there are no disclaimers or the name of the group that posted this Display, it has to be assumed the Library Staff posted it and thus they are endorsing this rhetorical political speech that is only being spoken by the DFL Party, Education MN (MN Teachers Union) and other left leaning groups and Journalists (Jana Shortal, a KARE 11 reporter).
Rule #2 All materials must be submitted to Library staff for posting. All bulletin board materials will be initialed and dated by staff before posting. Materials which have not been submitted for approval will be promptly removed.
This posting isn’t on a bulletin board and it is not initialed nor dated by the Library Staff. According to this rule this display must be promptly removed and yet it’s been there for quite some time.
Rule #4 Materials larger than 8 1⁄2″ x 11″ will be posted only if space is available, and they may be removed early if space is needed.
This is a lot larger than one letter size sheet of paper. This Display seems to have it’s own special space.
Rule #6 In facilities where there is no separate bulletin board for community postings, preference for space is given to the materials of Saint Paul Public Library and The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library
This seems to be the case here and again they are violating the spirit of a Public Library as being a neutral location where no political party or organization can call it a stronghold. Public Libraries are supposed to be places of education instead of indoctrination.
Libraries are very anti-religion. As a group had asked the library if they could have a Christian Story Hour there and they were told it isn’t inclusive, but they have hosted Drag Queen Story Hour there before in October 2022.
Hold Public Institutions Accountable when they Cater to One View
In an email sent to Ramsey County Elections Manager David Triplett I, Publius Jr, expressed concern for this blatant display of bias at a Polling location. I mentioned that it probably wouldn’t influence any voter about the School Board Election as there are no endorsed Conservatives running for School Board. Yet Rules have to be followed and the fact the verbatim rhetoric seems to favor the DFL Party on the subject of “Groomer” Books to be available for minors at Schools and Public Libraries, the Library Staff at Rice Street Library have made a political statement and we’re calling them on it.
Either it needs to be removed, a context statement about the display stating it is the political viewpoint of the Library Staff and possibly the Friends of St Paul Libraries, or the future of the Library as a Polling Location needs to be reconsidered.
We’ll update this posting when Mr Triplett responds to our complaint.
The Polling Location Could be Moved
One of the long time DFL Election Judges there in Ward 1 Precinct 12 have expressed that the Polling location could be moved to the main floor public area of their building, which is physically in Ward 1 Precinct 12, not Ward 5 Precinct 6 where the Library sits now. This would be great for the people of the building as many have physical handicaps and it can be difficult for them to vote in person which a number of them choose to do.
I am an Election Judge at an undisclosed Polling Location within St Paul City Limits. I just happened to be in the Library to meet with my City Councilwoman as she likes to hold her office hours with the public there. I just happened to see the display as I waited for her at this Library. Although my City Councilwoman was endorsed by the DFL when she ran, she is still my City Representative and I bring to her attention nonpartisan issues that affect everyone in our Ward. ~~ Publius Jr.