Library district buys electric ball, fireplaces, big screen TVs – But not American flags
June 18th, 2010
The Adams County library system will spend taxpayer money on fireplaces – but not American flags.
The Stars and Stripes flies proudly in front of all government buildings, public schools and many homes and businesses in Adams County. However, the local library district on a multi-million dollar taxpayer funded spending spree doesn’t feel our nation’s flag has a place at its new buildings.
Anythink, also known as the Rangeview Libraries, is the local library district in Adams County. Martin Mendez, an Adams County resident, recently attended a meeting at the Huron Street branch and noticed there was not an American flag in the meeting room. Upon inquiring about having one for the meeting, he was told that Anythink was a “neutral library” and had no flags at all.
It was then that alarm bells went off in his head and Mendez looked around. Sure enough, there was no sign of our nation’s flag anywhere – not inside the building and not even outside on a flag pole as is standard practice at all libraries.
Mr. Mendez contacted Pam Sandlian Smith, Library Director for the district and received a less than satisfactory response (see below). Smith said that in regards to flying the flag, “at this time it really is a practical, logistical issue for exterior flags.” She went on to further say that, “We are reviewing our plans for exterior flags and the details of that are yet to be decided.”
This of course begs the question – Why weren’t exterior flag poles part of the original design of these libraries to begin with?
A cursory search shows that the American flag is flown proudly outside of buildings operated by Aurora Public Libraries, the Weld [County] Library District, Denver Public Libraries, Jefferson County Public Libraries, and even Boulder County Public Libraries. If you think about it, when have you not seen a flag pole outside a library?
In 2006, after two previous failed attempts, Rangeview Library District / Anythink secured voter approval for a mill levy increase to fund new libraries and refurbish older facilities.
At the new Huron Branch, voter money was expended for dozens of banners flying from parking lot lights, widescreen televisions, an ‘electric ball’ and a fireplace. You can even find a book titled, “Flag: An American Biography” that chronicles the history and importance of our national ensign.
What you cannot find is an actual American flag.
Rangeview Library District / Anythink apparently believes that it is okay to spend tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars on unnecessary ‘amenities’ like fireplaces and marketing development (i.e. the Anythink brand). However an American flag is not something that they feel is worthy.
We call on Rangeview Library District / Anythink to immediately find the funds within its own taxpayer-funded budget to rectify this issue. There should not need to be a “review” as the director put it as the buildings should not have been built without flag poles.
Each and every branch of the Adams County library system should have a large flag pole that proudly displays the national colors and, arguably, a second flag pole flying the Colorado state flag should be installed as well. Further, at least one American flag and pole should be available inside the buildings for public meetings.
To not have flag poles in place is an affront to Adams County residents, the taxpayers, our nation and our veterans who have fought and died in defense of this country.
ALL RESIDENTS: Please contact Pam Sandlian-Smith, Library Director for the district, and let her know you too expect our public libraries to fly the flag! You can reach Ms. Sandlian Smith at 303-405-3299 or psmith@anythinklibraries.org.
- Update: For the latest on this story, see Anythink Libraries under siege – Refusing to solve flag problem, media onslaught begins
- H/T to CompleteColorado.com for helping to push this issue forward.
Full text reply of email from Pam Sandlian-Smith, Library Director for Rangeview Libraries:
June 16, 2010
Mr. Mendez,
Mayor Erik Hansen has shared your concern regarding the flying of the American flag at the Huron Street Library.
I hope you understand that we are in the midst of building and renovating seven libraries within a two year period and there are many details that are still being completed, including our exterior signage.
Regarding your inquiry at the Huron Library about why we aren’t flying the American flag; at this time it really is a practical, logistical issue for exterior flags. We have purchased flags for all of our meeting rooms. Some have already been installed; some are yet to be delivered.
We are reviewing our plans for exterior flags and the details of that are yet to be decided.
Libraries are one of the most democratic of all American institutions – they symbolize freedom of speech and free discourse. They provide free access to the written and spoken words about all ideas, including those of our founding fathers. We love our flag as one of our key symbols of democracy.
I hope this information clarifies your concerns. In the future, if you have concerns or issues, our management and administrative team are incredibly thoughtful, practical and reasonable and we would enjoy having the opportunity to discuss these concerns before you elevate the issue.
Sincerely,
Pam Sandlian Smith
Library Director
I emailed Ms. Smith and said it wouldn’t kill them to go to Walmart and buy a $20 flag and mount it on the wall. I also said they weren’t neutral thye were American and they are funded by American dollars.
Flagpoles should be erected immediately, and flags flown every day. What is the status of this issue? When can we expect to see Flags out in front of the building? I am a Vietnam Veteran and expect to see the American Flag in front of every public building and in important meeting rooms.
I already sent a letter to the Editor of the Sentinel and the Frontier; it was not in the June 17, 2010 edition; the point is – the people of the Rangeview District paid for “Anythink’, by voting to tax our propety, hence we own it! The feeble excuses you got/we got, last weekend sound like the script of the Hate America Democrats, at the national level. I looked to see who runs OUR libraries – there is a five member Board of Trustees, charged with policy and leadership, but alas, most of them are Democrats. I think Thornton or the County should withhold their Certificates of Occupancy, until they get flagpoles, drill holes, and set them in concrete. One of the Trustees is [NAME WITHELD]‘s wife, – and a member of your Veterans Memorial Foundation – what’s up with her/them?
Please look into the awful condition of the U.S.flags that currently ARE displayed in front of buildings -. I am former military visiting my son and driving around in Adams Cty today it is embarasing to see the torn, faded and ripped flags flying in front of buildings up here. Arent they supposed to replace them when they get like this? Who is responsible? It is a disgrace. Thank you for looking into it
Sadly, I don’t think anyone realizes that these battered flags are supposed to be taken down and given to the VFW and they will replace them. They will respectfully take them and dispose of them the correct way and with honor.
People do not connect with the flag as we were taught as children. We were taught to respect the flag and what it stands for. Those in this country who have been bad mouthing it all along have done a lot of hurt. Their don’t care attitude has dumbed down a nation and made us a nation of idiots.
If we are to carry on this tradition of caring for the flag and making sure it is flown properly, then we need to be the example.
We need to proactively contact the right people and look into what can be done to replace worn flags, place flag poles where needed and repair the old ones.
We state that we are upset at our government and lay the blame on them, when We ARE The PEOPLE, it falls back on us. We have the ability to organize and put things in to place. We can not let Government do everything for us or they will continue to do so when we don’t want them to-ie; like right now!
Contact your local VFW and tell them about this and lets see what can be done before the 4th! Stand up for the little things we can.
The Library Director, Ms. Sandlian Smith, stated in her response, “We love our flag as one of our key symbols of democracy.”
Here’s the root of her/the problem: We don’t have a democracy — we have a REPUBLIC!
It was recently brought to my attention that the official policy of the new Adams county libraries is not to display or fly the American flag. I’ve read that the reason for this is because the ibrary is viewed being ‘neutral’. I think this ideology is ridiculous! We are in the United States of America. The flag is a symbol of our great, yes, great, country. A country, which, by the way, was designed as a rebublic, not a democracy.
If this ideology is the sort of thing that my tax dollars are paying for, I am going to down vote any and all requests for money!
Enough is enough!
Susan Hallock
Nearly 500,000 men and women of the “Greatest Generation” gave their lives in defense our nation and its national symbol — the American flag. What an insult to their sacrifice that you would allocate tax dollars for big screen tv’s and fireplaces but not for the display of our American flag. As a military vet and Adams County resident, don’t expect my support for the library district until I see our flag displayed inside and outside our libraries.
Maybe they should change their name to “ANYFLAG Library”.
What an outrage!
Last time I checked the library system is supported and paid for by (WE the PEOPLE of Adams County). It is paid for by our taxes, and all of the other city and county buildings fly the National flag and the state flag.
I sent the following email to Ms Sandlian Smith
TO: Pam Sandlian Smith
Library Director for Rangeview Libraries
Dear Pam,
I used your first name because you must be younger than I am. The reason I say that is because there would be no question about a flag in front of the library if you were as old as I am. When I was young, one of the freedoms the flag was a symbol of was the freedom of press. That “freedom of press” guaranteed a certain “neutrality” of the library.
The flag was displayed on all public buildings (court houses, police stations, libraries, etc). It was a symbol of the freedoms we enjoyed, because we lived in the United States of America. The flag should not be an after thought. It should take prominent focal point in the front of the building.
Have we come so far that the flag is not a symbol of these freedoms?
Perhaps the bond issue was too over encompassing, if you did not have time or resources to decide that the flag should be flown on each and every library covered by this bond issue. In my opinion it should have been one of the first priorities.
I would politely request that the display of the American Flag on a flag pole be given priority in your “tasks to do” list.
I do not know if you have the currently somewhat popular political view that the flag is an embarrassment because of the way other countries view us. But that flag is a symbol of the guarantee that no-one has the right to force that political view on me. Especially since I am one of the citizens that is paying for these libraries.
The bottom line is I feel it is an attack on the freedoms enjoyed by the citizens of the United States, when our flag is not flown over a public building that is paid for by those citizens. Here is hoping that a symbol of our freedoms can be flown very soon over all of our Range View Public Libraries.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Warren Davis
[my email address]@comcast.net
I read the 2010 Budget and Operating Plan and found out that Pam Smith answers to the five appointed Library Trustees. They are appointed by the Adams County Commissioners. The Mayors and City Councils of Thornton, Northglenn, Bennett, Brighton and Commerce City have no jurisdiction over this Library District. The entire 160 page document does not mention, not once, The American Flag. This is the problem. There is no American Flag policy. Apparently, these “Trustees” cannot be trusted with the honorable display of the American Flag.
The “Trustees”, hmm, are: Kay Riddle, President-Dorothy Lindsey, Vice President-Ray Coffey, Treasurer-Debra Neiswonger, Secretary-Linda Wisniewski.
I emailed Pam Smith, Library Director, this was her happy response: “By end of day on Wednesday, June 23, we will proudly display American presentation quality flags in the main meeting room at each of our libraries.”
So, what you’re telling me, Pam, is that the American Flag is kept, by the Anythink Library District, locked up in an empty, dark room? Where no one can see it, especially children and veterans?
Isn’t that what happened to our POW’s?
The American Flag went from censorship to Solitary Confinement, brilliant!
So, why no flagpole? (Uh, with an American Flag flying from it) And, what about the State of Colorado Flag for that matter? Where is it? Does the district have one?
This MUST be rectified right away; we also must make sure this does not EVER happen again. That flag represents all the reasons that library can have all the books they have. Unrestricted books on any religion or anything you would like to be interested in. “USA where you can redefine yourself every day, however or whenever you would like”.
I am sure our Men and Women who serve and die for us in our Military would like this taken care of too, not to mention the freedoms that library gets to enjoy because of the struggle we have had, the struggle we still have to endure to fly that flag proudly.
GET OUR FLAG UP, GET YOUR SELF EDUCTATED ON THIS MATTER, YOU APPARENTLY GREATLY NEED IT !!!!
Please see the link. I noticed the statement that our flag funds are low
http://denver.yourhub.com/Brighton/Stories/News/General-News/Story~803250.aspx
Steven, the quote in the YourHub story about flag funds being low is in reference to the VFW’s funds – not the library’s. It was made by a VFW officer.
In essence what this amounts to is the fact that since Anythink / Rangeview did not have any flags at the Brighton branch, it was VETERANS that stepped forward to ensure the flag was displayed.
The library did not have a flag and the VFW did not have the money so a VFW member PERSONALLY contributed the funds for the flags. This makes the situation even more reprehensible.
Anythink / Rangeview should be ashamed of themselves.
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As a veteran I was shocked to see at a shipping company on Havana and Smith Road flying the American flag at the same level as the German Flag. Any recommendations. Thank you.
Kurt – Flying another nation’s flag in addition to the U.S. flag is acceptable according to the U.S. Flag Code. The key thing is that the poles need to be of the same height and typically the U.S. flag is to the left of all others when viewed (usually from the street).
Here are the applicable parts from the code:
This is an old probem in Adams County. Flags have not flown in front of any of the librarys except Thornton for many years. Didnt Marty Flaum not relize this when he was in charge???
Smells like politics as usual to me.
If its been going on for so long, why did it take until now to bring it up? Apparently it’s just not that big of a deal to people. Hmmmmmmm. Maybe because it’s not a big deal. Not having a library to put a flag pole in front of in the first place is a much bigger deal. I’ll take the library any way I can get it.
It is important to note that the Thornton branch has always had a flagpole. Further, the old Northglenn branch was adjacent to a North Metro fire station which of course had one and the Brighton branch is next to a National Guard Armory which has one. It was only when these new branches were built and no longer near others who choose to honor our nation that it was noticed.
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Tony states that the flag is “not worthy” of the expenditure and compares it to other amenities of the Libraries. The fact that the libraries are built and appointed with amenities that better serve the public that uses them has nothing to do with the flag debate. The libraries are beautiful and very functional facilities that enhance thier communities, whether they have flags flying in front of them or not.
I’m not sure where you get this: “Tony states that the flag is “not worthy” of the expenditure.”
I never said any such thing in any way, shape or form – I have no idea where that comes from but the article is completely contrary to that statement.
I meant Tony says “the library district” doesn’t thing it’s worthy of the expenditure. I don’t think cost or worthiness was the issue. I’m glad they are putting them up.
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