The Fort Vancouver Regional Library Board of Trustees is attempting to remove the words "equity" and "equitable access" from the library district's five-year strategic plan. This is not a semantic debate. It's a coordinated effort to undermine the library's commitment to serving all community members.[1]
The timeline:
Why this matters:
This effort is being led by three specific board members: Kristy Morgan, Olga Hodges, and Marie Coffey. Two of these board members have ties to Moms for Liberty, a national organization known for book banning efforts and opposition to inclusive programming. This isn't about neutral language. It's about whether our public library system will continue to actively work toward serving everyone in our community, particularly those who have historically faced barriers to access.
Important: Not all board members support removing equity language. Trustee Mary Williams has been vocal in defending the library's commitment to equity and named these specific members in her December public comments.
Libraries are not neutral spaces. They are public resources funded by our tax dollars, and they must be accountable to all residents, not just those who are comfortable with the status quo.
The library district has an existing Equity Policy that states: "Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries is committed to equitable access to library services, programs, and collections for all members of the communities we serve."[3]
Removing this language from the strategic plan signals a retreat from that commitment.
1. Email the Board of Trustees
Send an email to: trustees@fvrl.org
2. Attend the next board meeting
Meetings are held monthly and are open to the public, both in person and via Zoom. You can sign up to make a public comment by emailing trustees@fvrl.org.
3. Share this information
Talk to your neighbors, post on social media, forward this to your book club. Community action matters.