The Washoe County Library Board has voted to lift two of three one-year suspensions, sparking discontent on both sides.
Carson City resident Drew Ribar and Reno residents Fred Myer and Sandee Tibbett were suspended for one year from all libraries in the county on June 15 after being accused of disrespectful behavior and harassment of library staff during drag queen storytime protests.
On August 21, Tibbett and Myer’s suspensions were lifted after two months. Ribar’s suspension remained in place.
All three argued that the allegations of aggressive protests that led to the cancellation of the drag queen reading sessions were false and that they should not have been denied access to the libraries.
Assistant Library Director Stacey McKenzie told the board that the behavior of protesters at North Valleys Library’s drag queen hour in June was “traumatizing” for staff. She urged the library board to keep the suspensions in place for the entire year.
“Anything less than maintaining this suspension or less than the stated year will be interpreted as condoning their behavior. It would be a slap in the face to program participants and volunteers,” McKenzie said.
The library says Tibbett was bothered by the noise, but she and others in the audience held up signs to protest silently.
“I did nothing wrong,” Tibbett said at the library board meeting. “I was harassed and intimidated with security threats and then discriminated against. … Why me?”
The board voted 3-1 to lift the ban.
Myer was accused of shouting at a staff member at the entrance to the storytime event. The board saw a video of the altercation, which showed Myer standing behind the pylons marking the perimeter of the event.
During the discussion, the Board concluded that Myer did not harass any employees during the event and unanimously lifted his suspension.
At the meeting, Chair Ann Silver asked why library staff immediately imposed the maximum sentence of one year on Tibbett and Myer.
North Valley Library Director Jonnica Bowen said the “history” of experiences with the protesters contributed to the increased suspension.
“When acts are this egregious, we go to higher levels, and that often depends on the situation,” Bowen said. “But we haven’t just imposed 365 days.”
As an alternative, trustee Tami Ruf offered a six-month suspension.
“I think this committee is very torn because we want to show the utmost respect for the work of our library staff. But I and my colleagues believe that this is not a justification for a one-year suspension,” Silver said.
“The punishment must be appropriate for the crime. Perhaps a year was too much.”
Trustee Gianna Jacks said the suspensions should be lifted because there would be no more drag queen story hours in libraries. Silver agreed on the condition that Tibbett demonstrate exemplary behavior in the future.
“The fact that we spend so much time on this is pretty unbelievable to me,” Silver said. “It boils down to bad behavior … and we should all be better. Every one of us.”
Ribar was suspended after allegations that he tried to push past a librarian to get into drag queen class. The library had posted a picture of the employee’s injured arm, which was attributed to Ribar, on the agenda.
Ribar claimed he was merely trying to enter the library.
Ribar told the panel he “wasn’t wearing his glasses” and didn’t see a sign indicating the library was closed, but a police officer told him it was open. He held the door open with his foot as he asked to come in.
The board confirmed his suspension in a 3-1 vote, with Jacks voting no.
Some demanded that the library punish its staff for making false accusations; others condemned the library board for not supporting its staff.
“This is not an issue with two equal sides and I am extremely disappointed in the lack of support the board showed for library staff tonight,” said Tara de Queiroz, a Washoe County resident and self-proclaimed library supporter.
Jaedyn Young covers local affairs for the Reno Gazette-Journal. Her salary is 100% funded by donations and grants. If you want to read more stories like this, please consider donate here. Send your story ideas and feedback to Jaedyn at [email protected].
