After becoming Director of Boundary County Library earlier this year, Kimber Glidden was immediately faced with resistance and extreme requests for censorship. This resistance soon turned to threats and experiences that led her to feel unsafe at work.

As a public entity, it is important for libraries to support a wide variety of community perspectives. Now, as always in our history, reading is among our greatest freedoms. We believe that free communication is essential to the preservation of a free society and creative culture. By intentionally creating space for an event like this, we were able to have a meaningful, public conversation about the controversy surrounding banned and challenged books at the library.

At the Library, our priority is to provide access to a wide variety of community perspectives. Through programs like these, we offer a platform to learn about the different issues facing our broader community. “I think it’s important to share my experience to show how freedom of expression is at risk and how we can continue to advocate for diverse perspectives,” said Glidden. 75 individuals attended this event and contributed to a fruitful discussion!