It is a sad commentary when a loyal patron has to remind the MPL director & board what their true duty to the Marshall County public is (which is what John Worden’s letter did). It has been two years since I began attending the monthly MPL board meeting in order to support a patron who, up until then, I had not known. Since I have been a biological researcher my entire career, I have been impressed with the fairness & accuracy of The Epoch Times, especially the science research section. Two years ago I met John Worden & the MPL board just for that very reason, to encourage the support of the MPL to have the two fine & well-known publications available at our Marshalltown public library; The Epoch Times & The American Rifleman.

Every sentence that Mr. Worden wrote last Saturday is accurate & with ‘care & concern’; no malice. You have my word as a loyal M-town community member, after almost 80 years living respectfully in this community.

I even suggested to the board members Tuesday, Feb. 18, at their monthly public meeting that they might ‘revisit’ the reasons they were approved to become a board member, since it might have been under false pretenses, knowing what the MPL handbook policy truly says. Middle ground could/should be found, especially since generous patrons are paying the subscription fees. Isn’t it a shame that M-town adults aren’t even allowed to choose if they want to read two ‘excellent publications’ or not? Doesn’t ‘censorship’ ring a bell? I’ve heard many people say, “Why beat a dead horse?” The truth is, the horse is far from dead. Sadly, it’s alive and healthy and still being beaten unmercifully.