Iron River Library Board members replaced

The Iron River Public Library board has been shaken up again.

Two of the seven members were replaced earlier this month. The changes come after four members were replaced in November.

This time, board president Cassie Fleming was replaced by Rich Nemitz, while Karl Morrin was replaced by Wendy Furtak. The appointments were made by the Iron River Town board on June 21. Morrin, who is the Maple School District superintendent, served on the board as the school district’s representative. He recommended Furtak take his place. Fleming declined to comment on the matter.

Town board Chairman Dave Ciembronowicz and Nemitz thanked Fleming for her service to the library.

“Cassie has done a hell of a job in a difficult situation,” Nemitz said.

Changes to the board were made as residents for the past several months continue to raise concerns about books in the library that they feel are inappropriate for children. A group calling themselves “The Concerned Citizens of Iron River” has called numerous titles, including the children’s books “I love My Colorful Nails,” and “The Hips of the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish” inappropriate for kids.

Another title, the graphic novel “Let’s Talk About It,” has drawn even more criticism for its cartoon drawings that depict various sex acts, how-to pictures on masturbation and fetishes.

Two Iron River officials have weighed in on the discussion, including a new member of the library board. Materials like “Let’s Talk About It” meet the definition of pornography, Nemitz reportedly said at an Aug. 15 library board meeting. According to records of the meeting, Nemitz said the inappropriate material should not be in the library.

“Children need to be protected. We protect minors from buying liquor, cigarettes, ‘Playboy,’ etc. Children who are exposed to pornographic materials in a private home can be pulled by DHS (the Department of Health and Human Services). Why is it OK to expose them in a public library?” Nemitz asked the library board.

In a letter to the library board, Ciembronowicz said that although the community supports the library, he questioned if a book that shows a vagina or a book about transgender issues mimicking “The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round” provides value.

“This material disregarded the fact that children of any age use the library many times by themselves without the benefit of a parent or guardian with them to help guide them,” he stated in the letter.

As residents continue to voice their opinions at public meetings and online, Ciembronowicz said on June 21 he feels the backlash from this has caused the board to become unorganized and unable to move things along.

“I was the one who appointed people to board last year based on recommendations. I thought those people were going to be the right people. And I have to admit that I questioned that today. That’s part of the problem,” Ciembronowicz said. “(We) will work to fix that problem.”

An online petition regarding the library’s future has made things worse, he said, raising questions from the community about if the library is going to close.

“It’s not closing. Our job is to make this an inviting town for anyone who moves into it,” he said.

The next library board meeting is on July 17.

“Job No. 1 is to run the library. It’s pretty much that simple,” Nemitz said about being on the library board.