Irene Bonner

Public libraries are intentionally governed by independent boards of trustees because democracy depends on equal access to information that is free from direct government oversight. For reasons I list below, I urge you to vote NO on this HB 1214. Library Independence matters. Public libraries are governed by independent boards to ensure free and equal access to information without political influence or government oversight of ideas, collections, or services. . Trustees are accountable to the public. Library trustees are locally elected or appointed volunteers who serve their communities directly and transparently, with a singular focus on the library's mission. The current model works. New Hampshire's trustee-governed libraries have a long, proven history of responsible fiscal management, community responsiveness and institutional stability. Libraries require continuity. Trustees provide long-term stewardship that extends beyond election cycles, ensuring consistent policies and services for residents. Allowing municipal takeover of library governance undermines this independence and risks politicizing library operations, collections, and services that are intended to serve the entire community equitably.