Ty Rushing writes: “The doors of the Vinton (Iowa) Public Library have been open to the public since 1904, but were shuttered on July 8, while the Vinton Library Board tries to sort out staffing issues seemingly brought on by local dalliances with the national culture wars. Residents [had] criticized the library’s LGBTQ staff and their displaying of LGBTQ-related books until most of the staff quit. Since summer 2021, the library has gone through two permanent directors and an interim director who has served in that role twice. According to the [Cedar Rapids] Gazette, the library is set to reopen with limited hours and service on July 18, with members of the library board filling in as volunteers. But how did things get to this point?”
Iowa Starting Line, July 13; The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), July 14