Yesterday I posed a question to Micah Beckwith [FN1]: “Did you have a library card for HEPL prior to resigning from its board?” The answer is either “yes” or “no.” I’ve yet to receive an answer. That board position is the only public office Beckwith’s held. 1/9

HEPL is a public library.(“APRA”) [FN2] is Indiana’s counterpart of the Fed’s FOIA. [FN3] As I drafted the APRA request, I was impressed by the many resources that a library card makes available in our State’s libraries. A patron can seek an interlibrary loan of a book if 2/9

one’s local library lacks it. Then there is a PLAC. [FN4] That card enables a person to use, and check out materials from, any public library in Indiana. [FN5] A card issued by your local library is required. I wrote yesterday that right-wing people say we should run public agencies 3/9

like a business. The owner of a retail business ignorant of how her/his cash register works is soon out of business. In my review of minutes of HEPL board meetings, I found a troubling discussion.
A board member suggested HEPL purchase a camera system for security. 4/9

Beckwith seconded the motion. [FN6] One person was “troubled by the idea of gathering this information on library users from a privacy standpoint.” [FN7] Beckwith asked if “law enforcement would like” HEPL to use the system. That got a “yes.” A 3rd board member 5/9

explained that “certain license plates are flagged and would created an alert for law enforcement to respond.” [FN8] Beckwith was unconcerned about others’ privacy & none of this amounted to a damn thing. Beckwith got publicity & Hamilton County was a target of derision. 6/9

Beckwith slunk away to run for IN LT Gov. A member of the board overseeing a library should have a card & know how to withdraw books. So Beckwith: “Did you have a library card for HEPL prior to resigning from its board?” Imagine our State prey to a Lt GovBeckwith. 7/9

Footnotes:
FN1. Hamilton County preacher, member of Board of Trustees of Hamilton East Public Libraries (“HEPL”) until Jan 10, 2014, resignation, and current magaGOP nominee for IN LT Gov.
FN2. The Indiana Access to Public Records Act (“APRA”), I.C. §5-14-3, et seq. 8/9

Footnotes:
FN3. Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. §552.
FN4. The Public Library Access Card (PLAC) is the name for the statewide library card, enacted by (Indiana Code 4-23-7.1-5.1).
FN5. An annual fee for the card is required; also, not all materials can be checked out.
FN6. HEPL board of directors meeting minutes, 6/22/23.
FN7. Id.
FN8. Id. 9/9