Whose voices count at the library?

LANDER — The Fremont County Library Board's February 4 meeting was dominated by a sharp and at times contentious debate over whether public opinion should meaningfully shape library policy – or whether that responsibility rests solely with appointed board members.

The exchange was a direct continuation of a dispute that stretches back to last fall. 

Following a required public comment period, on December 4 the library board voted 3-2 to remove all references to the American Library Association from its policies, handbooks, and other documents.

In the weeks leading up to the vote, the Fremont County Library System had received a significant number of public comments that established a clear preference: The majority of Fremont County residents and library patrons who took the time to write or speak did not support the ALA removal.

Despite these comments, board members Karen Wetzel, Kristen McClelland, and Marta Mossburg all voted in favor of the removal; board members Julie Lefevre and Perry Cook voted against the removal.

"I'm not going to be swayed by the majority, unless the majority is correct in my opinion," Mossburg said at the time.

In January, the board continued to wrestle with the implications of the removal. 

While library documents always made it clear that board control superseded any ALA guidance, a freedom to read statement, library bill of rights and a code of ethics for board members were among the items removed by December's vote.

Library Director Anita Marple suggested that the Association for Rural and Small Libraries may have helpful resources for the board to consider; Mossburg initially pushed back on this, saying that she didn't think Marple should be involved in drafting replacement language since she had opposed the removal. 

After some discussion, Mossburg walked back these objections, saying that she had only intended to suggest that each board member bring their own ideas.

At that time, the board discussed holding a work session to go over ideas about how it can replace the language that was removed in December. That work session discussion resurfaced at this week's meeting, as board members debated whether replacement language – including the library system's bill of rights – should be shaped by public comment or drafted independently by the board.

Board member Perry Cook argued that policies governing a public institution should be rooted in community values.

"I think the bill of rights should not reflect just the opinion of five members of the county – the five of us," Cook said. "It should reflect the county, particularly the members of the library. What do our citizens want our library to do?"

Cook said the board had lost credibility by requesting public comment and then disregarding it.

"I think right now our behavior has really hurt the board's image," she remarked. "The public expressed wanting to keep the ALA language, and we removed it. That hurts trust."

Then, Cook pointed back to Mossburg's earlier comments.

"You basically said that you're going to totally disregard what the vast majority of our patrons said," Cook told her. "That's how it came across."

Mossburg responded by rejecting the idea that majority opinion should always rule, arguing that history shows popular opinion can be morally wrong.

"Majorities have not allowed women to vote. Majorities have enslaved people. Majorities have gassed entire populations," Mossburg said. "So I don't think majorities always make the right decision."

She, along with Wetzel, emphasized that board members were appointed to exercise independent judgement.

"We were appointed to make decisions for the county, and I continue to believe that," Mossburg commented. "It is not the job of the public to write our bylaws and our policies for us."

Marple disagreed. 

"If you seriously believe that our Fremont County Library should be for everyone," she said, "then you will welcome the opportunity to have the public be involved."

Board chair Kristen McClelland repeatedly emphasized that the discussion and resulting decisions would ultimately take place during a work session set for February 19 at 3 p.m. at the Lander Library.

This story was published on Feb. 7, 2026.