Suzanne Allison

I am a 50 year voting resident of NH and a life long public library supporter and trustee and I strongly oppose HB 1214 and I urge the committee to do the same. Allowing a municipal takeover of library governance undermines libraries’ independence and risks politicizing the library operations, collections, and services that are intended to serve the entire community equitably. HB 1214 threatens the public trust New Hampshire residents have long placed in our libraries. Governance of the library should be independent of the Select Board in order to ensure freedom of information to ALL citizens. The trustees work solely with the library. The Select Board runs the entire town. The trustees work with the Select Board in matters concerning the library. There is NO need for the Select Board to be in charge of it. It is a transfer of responsibility that has no merit or justification. This is a bill that attempts to solve a problem that doesn't exist. The existing law works well and there is no reason to change it. Library trustees are elected to govern all aspects of library activity, financial and otherwise. To take this responsibility out of the hands of the library trustees and into the hands of the Select Board would add unnecessary bureaucracy, and also give decision making power to people who may not have the best interests of the library or the library’s mission. The separation that currently exists between the library and the government provides the independence that the library requires to full fill its mission. The public relies on the library for free access to a wide variety of materials in order to become informed members of a democracy. I urge you to oppose this unnecessary bil. Thank you for your time and for the opportunity to express my concerns.