We, the undersigned, are respectfully demanding that the Board address the issue of age-appropriate material for children and young adults and meet
the requirements established by Alpena County for Library Trustees.

The responsibilities of the Library Board of Trustees are stated as such, “Responsibilities of the Trustees include determining the mission of the library,
setting the policy that governs the library, hiring and evaluating the library director and overseeing the general management of the library”.

• Does the board support age-appropriate standards for material made available to children and young adult readers?

• If so, what are the standards for age-appropriate material and how does the community impact those standards?

• How are, or would, age-appropriate standards be enforced? What process will be in place and does the community have a say in the process?

• What process is in place to manage intentional disregard of established standards by library staff? If there is no established standard, we respectfully request that one be created and implemented by the board.

As Alpena County residents, we bear the financial burden for library operations through two existing millages of .74620 mills and .24870 mills. A combined total of .9949 mills. [Reference https://www.alpena.mi.us/government/city_clerk_treasurer/tax_millage_rates.php .]

Given that we are taxed annually for library operations, we demand input into library operations and oversight through the appointed Board of Trustees.

We are hereby notifying the Board of Trustees that our continued financial support for library operations (95% plus of the annual budget) will be determined by the implementation of age-appropriate standards, full implementation of said community approved standards, and accountability of library staff to ensure age-appropriate standards are adhered to.

We value our community and our library and will not endorse or support the promotion of inappropriate material to children and young adults that runs counter to our values.

Our support for the continued operation of this library, ensured through voter-approved millages which are coming up for renewal, will be directly influenced by the actions of the Board of Trustees in responding to our petition.