Terri Lesley found herself unexpectedly thrust into a contentious discussion on freedom of expression and book censorship that has engulfed libraries in the United States and Canada. Her termination from the role of library system director in Campbell County, Wyoming, over two years ago has culminated in a $700,000 US ($976,710 Cdn) settlement following a legal battle.
Expressing relief at the resolution, Lesley shared with As It Happens host Nil Kӧksal, “I’m relieved to have this outcome, and I believe it will help my community to move on.”
Lesley hopes that the settlement serves as a deterrent to those advocating against library materials and the First Amendment, emphasizing, “People that want to keep pushing an agenda to go against these library materials and the First Amendment [right to free speech], I hope they see this, and I hope it’s a deterrent.”
Lesley’s lawsuit contends that her dismissal after nearly two decades was a result of her refusal to remove or restrict books featuring 2SLGBTQ+ themes and sexual content from the library shelves in Gillette, Wyoming.
Denying Lesley’s assertions, the county stated in legal documents that her termination was due to performance-related issues, not the book-related disagreement.
Campbell County referred to a statement from its insurance company’s attorney, clarifying that the settlement does not admit to any of the allegations, emphasizing that the resolution was to avoid escalating litigation costs.
As per the settlement terms, Lesley is dropping her lawsuit, yet a separate legal action against three individuals who contested the books remains ongoing.
Turning Point: A Pride Post Sparks Controversy
During most of her tenure in Wyoming County, Lesley encountered very few challenges regarding books. However, in 2021, following a Pride month post on Facebook by the library’s public relations co-ordinator highlighting their 2SLBGTQ+ collection, a wave of complaints ensued. The number of book challenges escalated significantly, with three in August growing to nearly 30 by year-end, as reported by the American Library Association (ALA).
Reflecting on the sudden shift, Lesley remarked, “We’ve never had anything like this happen. I was caught off guard completely.”