Is the Florence Public Library for Only Certain People?

 

Michael White is a community activist and frequent speaker at Florence City Council meetings. He is also the head of Vote 'Em All Out and had attempted to bring some citizens together at the Florence Public Library for a meeting.

We say attempted, because even though the group is non-partisan, he was denied the use of any of the library's facilities. Here's his take on it:

I decided it might be of public interest to have a meeting of those who are like minded and want to see new leaders in the city to discuss the upcoming election. I was contemplating where to have a meeting and I remembered that there were meeting rooms at the Florence library. I called the library and talked with the meeting room coordinator: Kaitlyn Belue. I told her why I was requesting a meeting space. Ms. Belue was very helpful and informed me that the room could only be used by non-profit or civic groups and none associated with an individual political candidate. She told me I could fill out the application at the Florence Lauderdale Public Library website and we ended the conversation.

I filled out the application online and used the name: Citizens for a Better Florence for the "group". I even went so far as to go online and fill in the preliminary application for a 501c3 status although this was not to be a non-profit organization. Only a group of citizens protesting local government and wanting to see changes made.Not one hour later I received the following email:

Hi, Michael
Thank you for filling out the form. After reviewing, we don't allow political groups to meet here at the library. I hope you can find an alternate space.
Thanks. Have a great rest of your day!
--
Kaitlyn Belue
Meeting Room Coordinator
Florence-Lauderdale Public Library
350 North Wood Ave.
Florence, AL. 35630

Today, I went to the library and started talking with Ms. Belue but almost immediately, I was approached by the "Executive Director" Abby Carpenter who told me that she would have to consult with the library board before approving my application. I asked her why and she could not OR would not answer. I did inform her in my defense that I know of at least one political group which meets at the library in one of the meeting rooms each month: The Lauderdale County Democratic Party. She would not address this either. She just kept repeating the line that she would "consult with the board". She was determined not to address my concerns so I asked her when she would let me know of the "boards" decision and she said: "Next week". I did ask for and received a copy of the "meeting room policy" and in reviewing the policy I was right. As I had tried to relay: the group I am proposing to have meet in no way violates the terms of the library meeting room policy. BUT, I may have been wanting to have a meeting Betterton and crew did not want me to have! This is a glaring example of WHAT we are up against in Florence and WHY we must work harder than ever to VOTE EM ALL OUT!