Stealing a Library

STEALING A LIBRARY opens by following Principal Librarian, Melissa Ronning, on her last day before resigning her position at the Huntington Beach Public Library in protest of book censorship and additional attacks directed by the conservative City Council majority. Beginning in early 2024, after challenging and pulling over 100 books from the Children's and Young Adult collections, Huntington Beach City Council passed two ordinances infringing on first amendment rights and the freedom to read - an ordinance to politically appoint a civilian parent/guardian Book Review Board to challenge and censor the Children's/YA collections according to their taste, and gate-keep any future book acquisitions; and a proposal for a RFP to privatize the library as a means to further erode professional custodial influence on collections and services. Four senior librarians have resigned since the Spring of 2024, following the resignation of the Principal Librarian. The intention of our film is to remind and highlight how vital Libraries are to communities as social service institutions. Any special interest group or political group trying to further their agenda by controlling free thought and the freedom of information is a threat to Democracy. Libraries are the last bastion in any community of a free, safe space for everyone - regardless of politics, religion, education, social or economic status, gender, or age. We are documenting an ongoing story as the newly elected City Council board, as of November '24, is now stacked with 7 conservatives.