The Coronado Public Library is involved in social issues controversy, and this time it’s about religion and patriotism.
Coronado mothers Jessica Tompane and Rachel Racz approached the library for a “Pro-American, family-friendly” story time and were denied multiple times, according to a legal demand letter sent by their lawyers to the Coronado Public Library at the end of last year.
Both mothers are married to Navy SEALs, one veteran and one currently stationed in Coronado, and the women feel they are fighting battles regarding freedoms within the community.
This new controversy comes a few months after the library was involved in a debate over what was considered appropriate for children of a certain age to be reading, and more specifically which books should be on display in the children’s section of the library – an issue that was simultaneously circulating on a larger scale across the country.
It is also the latest battle over free speech in Coronado following the major community discussion over Awaken Church coming into town.
City officials declined to comment. But a leader of the Friends of the Library said the rejection was made as an attempt to be balanced in the community.
Last summer’s controversy
Tompane led the charge on last summer’s fight for changing the policies at the library, receiving some change, but not all she wanted.
In response to last summer’s controversy, the City of Coronado and the library made revisions to its policies for sharing children’s programming content, which included posting scheduled topics for story times a month in advance, and displaying the chosen book for story time 15 minutes prior to the start time for parents to look over.
However, the city decided to not move forward with Tompane’s specific updated policy request regarding topics of sexuality and how it relates to gender that she said would be inappropriate for children ages 0-4, and forming a certain criteria for deeming a book inappropriate such as images or illustrations of adult nudity and genitalia.
Because of this, Racz created the Tiny Patriots Story Time program aimed at “local veterans and members of the community reading patriotic, historical and family-oriented children’s books to toddlers at the library,” the legal demand letter reads, which was obtained by The Coronado News.
She created this program hoping to have these kinds of story times at the library, according to the letter, where regularly programmed story times are normally held.
The Tiny Patriots Story Time program
Racz told The Coronado News that creating it came from a place of instilling a love for American freedoms and values.
“I see it as an extra place and activity where parents can confidently bring their toddlers, knowing the focus is solely on age-appropriate books that celebrate positive values and encourage curiosity and critical thinking.”
Rachel Racz, founder of the Tiny Patriots Story Time program
“I see it as an extra place and activity where parents can confidently bring their toddlers, knowing the focus is solely on age-appropriate books that celebrate positive values and encourage curiosity and critical thinking,” Racz said.
However, these story times have been denied, according to the demand letter that also said the library “cited a non-existent policy banning all volunteers from hosting readings.”
“We launched with the Veteran’s Day story time where we had local SEAL dads and other veterans reading great books, and we were told we couldn’t host this event at the public library,” Racz said on FOX news. “Honestly, it’s absurd to me, in a community full of heroes…we are now fighting for these basic constitutional rights at our home.”
Racz also mentioned in her FOX interview that she was confused how the library had a “problem with patriotic books in the world’s most patriotic island.”
Tompane and Racz also received opposition from the library stating that “as a government agency [the library] does not do nor is it allowed to do religious programming,” according to their demand letter.
The Coronado Public Library declined to comment and referred questions to City Manager Tina Friend.
The City of Coronado is also unable to respond, according to communications officer Andrea McCullough. She said by law, the city cannot comment on an issue until a City Council meeting where the item is discussed. That may occur at the next city council meeting on Jan. 16, she said.
The bonus of Tiny Patriots is the focus on patriotism and the promotion of timeless American values.
Jessica Tompane
“Tiny Patriots is an excellent story time alternative for parents who want to ensure that the books read are age-appropriate and also edifying to such young and impressionable minds,” Tompane told The Coronado News. “The bonus of Tiny Patriots is the focus on patriotism and the promotion of timeless American values.”
The other side of the story
President and spokesperson of Friends of the Library Carl Luna had a different perspective.
You want to have a Christian perspective on Christmas. Whose perspective? … If you want to have 47 different Christian Christmas programs, how about the satan worshippers?
Carl Luna, President of Friends of the Library
“You want to have a Christian perspective on Christmas. Whose perspective? There’s a lot of different Christian views regarding how Christianity works. The view of a Catholic may be different than the view of a Presbyterian or Methodist,” Luna told The Coronado News. “If you want to have 47 different Christian Christmas programs, how about the satan worshippers?”
Friends of the Library is a non-profit organization of community volunteers whose main goal is to support the Coronado Public Library.
Luna noted the library has certain policies for the Winn Room, a popular gathering spot for the community within the library that is open to the public and the place Racz tried to book for her story time.
Policies on the use of the room were written by the Board of Trustees of the Coronado Public Library.
Library tries to stay neutral
“Use shall not be for religious purposes. This restriction does not apply to use by religious organizations for secular purposes,” policy No. 12 reads.
It also reads that there are five priorities that come first for the use of the Winn Room before it would be considered for public use, and that the requests are based on a first come, first serve basis.
According to Luna, it’s clear why Racz was rejected for her story time involving Christian-based Christmas themed story books based upon the policy.
Opening up the library to one religion means opening it up to the entire world’s spectrum of religions, which Luna said he would be open to having a discussion about, but to be careful what to ask for.
Luna said that the library’s rejection of Racz and Tompane was an attempt to be balanced and to present different cultural traditions.
He noted the library held a Hanukkah story time in which the seasonal festival was portrayed from a cultural perspective, and the library also held a Christmas story time in which the holiday was presented from a cultural standpoint.
“They were not trying to focus on a religious aspect,” Luna said.
Library’s relationship with the military
And in response to the library “having a problem with patriotic books,” Luna firmly believes that the Coronado Public Library is one of the most patriotic libraries in town.
The claim that this library is somehow anti-veteran is extremely upsetting and flies in the face of any demonstrable reality.
Carl Luna, President of Friends of the Library
“We support thousands of dollars in programming every year that the library does to support veterans,” Luna said. “The claim that this library is somehow anti-veteran is extremely upsetting and flies in the face of any demonstrable reality.”
The Coronado News found that the library does have numerous partnerships with military organizations, and hosts many military-minded events such as partnering with United Through Reading to connect servicemen overseas with their families through recorded story reading, and setting up a satellite library for children of U.S. Navy personnel and book donations for active service Navy.
Volunteer readers
Further, volunteers are and have been allowed to read at the library, but there is a procedure that must be followed – not just anyone can read at a story time if they approach the library, according to city policy.
The City of Coronado has a set of administrative policies in place in regards to the subject of those who can work in a youth service organization.
The policy reads that administrators, employees and regular volunteers of a youth service organization need to undergo background checks and trainings in child abuse and neglect reporting.
And on page three, it says that the policy requires “to the greatest extent possible, the presence of at least two Mandated Reporters, whenever administrators, employees, or volunteers are in contact with, or supervising, children.”
The policy clarifies the definitions of a Mandated Reporter and also who a regular volunteer would be.
“There are certain rules in place at the library that have been set to deal with the broader community, not just to satisfy any one small group’s desire for programming,” Luna said.
