The Fresno County Board of Supervisors this week put the kibosh on a request to have library staffers run a booth at a Fresno Pride event, arguing that it’s not inclusive enough.
The board has also approved more than 50 other days, weeks or months of themed observances at the Fresno County Library, many of which focus on a specific demographic, since the new more-restrictive Policy 80 and Policy 81 were adopted last summer.
The split board Tuesday voted down the request for library presence by Fresno Rainbow Pride, which this year marks the 36th celebration with a parade that typically passes through the Tower District and continues into a festival at Fresno City College.
Supervisors Garry Bredefeld, Nathan Magsig and Buddy Mendes voted to deny the request to allow staffers to run a 10-by-10 foot booth inside the festival.
Along with blocking the staffers, supervisors voted not to officially observe Pride Month inside the library. But they have no sway over how books are displayed, according to Doug Sloan, the county counsel. Pride Month book displays near entrance doors have been the target of some critics.
Bredefeld said on Tuesday the library staffers should attend community events that “reflect a balance and inclusive approach” for the community. He also described Pride and the LGBTQ+ community as “a political ideology and lifestyle movement.”
“Our libraries belong to all of us. They should be about books, learning and bringing families together,” Bredefeld said during the meeting.
The list of board-approved recognitions includes holidays for multiple religions, ethnic groups and diverse demographics.
Fresno County Librarian Sally Gomez told the board that library staffers go to events they’re invited to and have only ever turned down an invitation because of late notice by the event planners or a lack of library staffing.
The observances approved by the board since the policy was adopted include:
Administrative Professionals DayArab American Heritage MonthAutism Acceptance MonthBraille DayCaribbean American Heritage MonthCeliac Awareness MonthCinco de MayoD-DayDia de los MuertosDisability Pride MonthDrop Everything and Read Day (D.E.A.R.)Earth DayEaster, a Christian holidayEhlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) Awareness MonthEid al-Adha, an Islamic holidayEl Dia de los ninos / El dia de los libros, a national literacy effort for children of different linguistic and cultural backgroundsFall/AutumnFantasy Walk, which promotes reading, walking and audiobooksFather’s DayFlag DayFresno County Reads, which highlights one book and offers activities around itGenre challenge, which highlights book genresGroundhogs DayHalloweenHispanic Heritage MonthHoli, a Hindi festival of color in the springInternational Harry Potter DayIrish American Heritage MonthJewish American Heritage MonthLaw Day, a focus on the rule of lawMoney Smart Week, an education effort around financial literacyMother’s DayNational Children’s Book WeekNational Library WeekNational Pet MonthNational Poetry MonthNational Shakespeare DayNational Teacher DayParkinson’s Awareness MonthPassover, the Jewish holiday seasonPi Day, annually on March 14 in a nod to the mathematical constant, 3.14Pop-Up Prom, an effort to provide dress attire to young people for their promPreservation Week, a celebration of the archivesRamadan, the holiest month in IslamSaint Patrick’s Day, a Catholic holidayStar Wars Day, which is associated with the film franchiseSummer At Your Library: Go Wild for Reading, a celebration of reading around animal-based booksTeacher Appreciation DayValentine’s DayVesak Day, a Buddhist holiday festivalWomen’s Equality DayYom Ha Shoah/Holocaust Remembrance Day
The library staffers also visit schools throughout the year to encourage reading and inform students about the services available.
Here’s a list of several other events the library visited in the past year:
ZooBoo, a Halloween-themed event at Chaffee ZooTrunk or Treat with Fresno PARCS (Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department)The Young Authors’ Faire from Fresno County of EducationOpen house for Stone Soup Fresno, a nonprofit focused on immigrantsYou Matter Day, a community service event in KingsburgSpring Fest at Einstein ParkSummit Hope for the West Fresno Family Resource Center, a nonprofitFresno Grizzlies Community Partner NightBack to School Night at Clovis Farmers MarketBig Sandy Rancheria Annual Pow WowGovaganza Job Fair, which is focused on government and education jobsFamily Day at Fresno Art MuseumSelma Raisin FestivalWomen’s Empowerment FresnoFresno State Library for Print Signup Month, a push for residents to sign up for a library cardArtes Americas Poetry Contest
The supervisors gave a blanket approval to a number of holidays when they first adopted the policy, which included New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President’s Day, Cesar Chavez Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Cesar Chavez Day was renamed Fresno County Farmworker and Agriculture Appreciation Day in March after revelations about alleged sexual misconduct by Chavez, who died in 1993.
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Reporter Thaddeus Miller has covered cities in the central San Joaquin Valley since 2010, writing about everything from breaking news to government and police accountability. A native of Fresno, he joined The Fresno Bee in 2019 after time in Merced and Los Banos.