The board finally reinstated our librarians today. This fight was exhausting and long but seeing the doors open with Kari and Brandy back at their desks makes it worth the struggle. I am watching closely to ensure no more overreach occurs here.
October 9, 2023
Final supporters
TODAY'S MOST RECENT UPDATE FROM SAMANTHA CORWIN:
Wow - This has grown... Thank you for all of your support for our local librarians (and library!). The saga continues. Fact: The library board didn't issue an apology for anything. Opinion: The meeting was an unproductive, opaque, appeasement in hopes of placating those of us who are concerned with this issue. My opinion can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=3484429401819639&set=a.1458609831068283. If you would like to help with this cause send me a message. GRATITUDE does not begin to explain it.
These are the main issues that continue to arise in my own opinion: Overextension of power by the library board on the basis of discrimination, blatant and inconspicuous "under the table" book banning, inaccessibility issues. These issues came about through the public firing of Kari and Brandy which happened on the same day, July 5th in the open portion of a board meeting.
(Original "Petition text" still below as of 7/26/23).
Media coverage about the Sterling Carnegie Library terminations of Kari Wheeler and Brandy Lancaster. KWCH and Wichita Eagle news articles and videos on the issue can be viewed here:
WICHITA EAGLE/KANSAS CITY STAR
https://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/dion-lefler/article277199513.html
KWCH VIDEOS and ARTICLES:
https://www.kwch.com/2023/07/08/sterling-petition-circulates-save-jobs-library-director-assistant/
GO FUND ME: https://www.gofundme.com/f/x55hh4-donate-to-help-k...
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ORIGINAL POST
A petition to reinstate Kari Wheeler and Brandy Lancaster to their library positions as Director and Assistant. Both have expressed interest in getting their positions back.
ADDITION AS OF 7/19/23:
Here is a link to the third or fourth news article that’s come out about this. There have been three run through KWCH channel 12 news. Most recent one, linked here: https://www.kwch.com/2023/07/19/sterling-leaders-called-out-lack-transparency-after-library-directors-controversial-firing/?fbclid=IwAR0mZlDXKXs52-crGLRjeU6wkldXpm58cmMk6bN3sTfnxPoohbJogwpaHDM_aem_ASyxd-wYTY4dTdAAycwxYk_0MgNZSZTt5d6Hs3UHdMmDExrBoFhOgzCYT18k8act7e0#lk9xrn1chjvllymeuk
And one from the Wichita Eagle here: https://amp.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/dion-lefler/article277199513.html
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
July 13, 2023
July 9, 2023
The momentum behind this effort has grown beyond what I originally thought possible. It is exhausting to keep fighting these closed doors but seeing your backing keeps me moving forward.
Reached 100 supporters
July 7, 2023
143 Comments
Retired School Librarian who taught the WAW lists of books happily for years. Librarians are today’s hero’s on the front lines of standing up for the right to read and learn and against censorship. Democracy depends on it.
I’m with Dion Lefler on this one. Reinstate the two librarians who were fired and remove the rest of the Board members until/unless the votes from the firing are published as is required by law.
Librarians shouldn't be fired for DOING their jobs. The city of Sterling has some explaining to do on the transparency of their meetings and their budget planning. Something is rotten in Sterling, and it's not the librarians.
Kari Wheeler and Brandy Lancaster have always been so helpful when I have gone to the library. There should have been some discussion on this befroe they were fired. Surely there are laws on how this should have been habdeled?
The focus for the summer was neurodiversity—including autism. Many causes are represented by rainbows not just LGBTQ. We have many neurodiverse children and people in Sterling. They should be represented. Plus Kari and Brandy have done a wonderful job in the library.
Absolutely, this must stop. As an autistic woman and a person with a brain, I am outraged. What makes anyone think they can dictate how people love each other?
Reinstate!
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The board finally reinstated our librarians today. This fight was exhausting and long but seeing the doors open with Kari and Brandy back at their desks makes it worth the struggle. I am watching closely to ensure no more overreach occurs here.
October 9, 2023
Final supporters
TODAY'S MOST RECENT UPDATE FROM SAMANTHA CORWIN:
Wow - This has grown... Thank you for all of your support for our local librarians (and library!). The saga continues. Fact: The library board didn't issue an apology for anything. Opinion: The meeting was an unproductive, opaque, appeasement in hopes of placating those of us who are concerned with this issue. My opinion can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=3484429401819639&set=a.1458609831068283. If you would like to help with this cause send me a message. GRATITUDE does not begin to explain it.
These are the main issues that continue to arise in my own opinion: Overextension of power by the library board on the basis of discrimination, blatant and inconspicuous "under the table" book banning, inaccessibility issues. These issues came about through the public firing of Kari and Brandy which happened on the same day, July 5th in the open portion of a board meeting.
(Original "Petition text" still below as of 7/26/23).
Media coverage about the Sterling Carnegie Library terminations of Kari Wheeler and Brandy Lancaster. KWCH and Wichita Eagle news articles and videos on the issue can be viewed here:
WICHITA EAGLE/KANSAS CITY STAR
https://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/dion-lefler/article277199513.html
KWCH VIDEOS and ARTICLES:
https://www.kwch.com/2023/07/08/sterling-petition-circulates-save-jobs-library-director-assistant/
GO FUND ME: https://www.gofundme.com/f/x55hh4-donate-to-help-k...
----------
ORIGINAL POST
A petition to reinstate Kari Wheeler and Brandy Lancaster to their library positions as Director and Assistant. Both have expressed interest in getting their positions back.
ADDITION AS OF 7/19/23:
Here is a link to the third or fourth news article that’s come out about this. There have been three run through KWCH channel 12 news. Most recent one, linked here: https://www.kwch.com/2023/07/19/sterling-leaders-called-out-lack-transparency-after-library-directors-controversial-firing/?fbclid=IwAR0mZlDXKXs52-crGLRjeU6wkldXpm58cmMk6bN3sTfnxPoohbJogwpaHDM_aem_ASyxd-wYTY4dTdAAycwxYk_0MgNZSZTt5d6Hs3UHdMmDExrBoFhOgzCYT18k8act7e0#lk9xrn1chjvllymeuk
And one from the Wichita Eagle here: https://amp.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/dion-lefler/article277199513.html
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
July 13, 2023
July 9, 2023
The momentum behind this effort has grown beyond what I originally thought possible. It is exhausting to keep fighting these closed doors but seeing your backing keeps me moving forward.
Reached 100 supporters
July 7, 2023
143 Comments
Censorship of books and art in a public, tax-funded library, especially when the art is clearly misunderstood, has no place. Nor does termination of employees for resisting such censorship. Let parents censor what their children read instead, and reinstate terminated employees.
Retired School Librarian who taught the WAW lists of books happily for years. Librarians are today’s hero’s on the front lines of standing up for the right to read and learn and against censorship. Democracy depends on it.
I’m with Dion Lefler on this one. Reinstate the two librarians who were fired and remove the rest of the Board members until/unless the votes from the firing are published as is required by law.
Librarians shouldn't be fired for DOING their jobs. The city of Sterling has some explaining to do on the transparency of their meetings and their budget planning. Something is rotten in Sterling, and it's not the librarians.
Kari Wheeler and Brandy Lancaster have always been so helpful when I have gone to the library. There should have been some discussion on this befroe they were fired. Surely there are laws on how this should have been habdeled?
The focus for the summer was neurodiversity—including autism. Many causes are represented by rainbows not just LGBTQ. We have many neurodiverse children and people in Sterling. They should be represented. Plus Kari and Brandy have done a wonderful job in the library.
Absolutely, this must stop. As an autistic woman and a person with a brain, I am outraged. What makes anyone think they can dictate how people love each other?
Reinstate!
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Censorship of books and art in a public, tax-funded library, especially when the art is clearly misunderstood, has no place. Nor does termination of employees for resisting such censorship. Let parents censor what their children read instead, and reinstate terminated employees.