Christopher W. Weller, Sr.

CAPELL&HOWARDP.c. Attorney & Shareholder

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

334 241 8066 direct

March 21, 2024

Via Certified Mail with Return Receipt Requested and FedEx Overnight
Mrs. Laura Clark, Esq.
c/o
Autauga-Prattville Public Library Board of Trustees
254 Doster Street
Prattville, AL 36067

RE: DEMAND FOR RETRACTION, CORRECTION, AND APOLOGY

Dear Mrs. Clark,

This letter is written on behalf of Mr. Andrew Foster ("Foster'') to demand an immediate
apology, correction, and retraction of your statements made to the news media regarding
circumstances of the termination of Mr. Foster's employment and statements regarding alleged
acts allegedly taken by Mr. Foster during the course of his employment. As set out ,liel?w, your
statements are false and defamatory, and extremely damaging. Your statements, taken iil'~d/or
together, clearly convey the false impression that, contrary to the true facts, Mr. Foster engaged in
criminal conduct, revealed confidential infonnation, and committed other acts contrary to your
alleged instructions. Importantly, Mr. Foster seeks to restore his good name and reputation in the
community without the need to resort to costly and time-consuming litigation.

I. INTRODUCTION

This dispute arises out of the unfortunate and entirely unnecessary events surrounding the
Autauga-Prattville Public Library Board ofTrustees' ("Board") decision to tenninate Mr. Foster's
1

employment as Library Director. For your reference, we will briefly set out the relevant events
below.

At the outset, we unequivocally state that Mr. Foster has never sought to frustrate or
interfere with the Board's implementation of any decision regarding the removal or segregation of
controversial books from the Autauga-Prattville Public Library ("library"). Rather, he has sought
clarification from the Board on multiple occasions regarding the Board's specific and collective
desire and, in particular: (1) whether the Board desired to completely remove certain books from
the library or simply label and relocate the books within a designated area of the library, and (2)
precisely which books the Board wanted Mr. Foster to remove or relocate.

As used herein, the tenns "Autauga-Prattville Public Library Board of Trustees" and "Board" may refer to the Board
1

and its members, in their official and/or individual capacities.

J

Page f 2

y and
On multiple occasions, you and the Chainnan Ray Boles, provided Mr. Foster contrar
to take up the
countennanding instructions. When he sought clarification and asked the Board
relocated, you,
matter in an open meeting and publicly vote on the books to be removed or
action as hostile and uncoop erative and
Chainnan Boles, and the Board apparently interpreted that
ment and replace him. To
began searching for a thinly disguised pretext to tenninate his employ
on, you used the
compound matters, and in an effort to destroy what remained of his good reputati
ting criminal
media (television, radio, and newspaper) to publicly accuse Mr. Foster of commit
acts.
correct
This is your one opportunity to set the record straight and to immediately retract and
ze to Mr. Foster for the
the defamatory statements we identify in detail below and to apologi
you to take
significant harm you have caused to his character and reputation. I strongly urge
and protracted
advantage of this opportunity rather than subjecting the taxpayers to costly
litigation.

II. RELEVA NT FACTS.

the Board
Mr. Foster served as the Library Director for the library from July 2023 until
meeting called on March 14,
tenninated his employment during an executive session of a special
the adoptio n of a
2024. The library has been at the forefront of controversy in recent months due
policy primarily
new "Collection Development Policy," which many in the community consider a
Policy, a "red warning
targeted at the LGBTQ community. Under the Collection Development
l in the library 's
label" is to be "prominently" affixed "on the binding of any book or other materia
conduct, sexual
collection containing content including, but not limited to, obscenity, sexual
advertised for
intercourse, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender discordance and
y, or religion
consumers 18 and older." However, "[m]aterials concerning biology, human anatom
right to the Board "to
are exempt from this rule." The Collection Development Policy reserves the
movies, artwork,
exercise discretion over all library material, including but not limited to books,
displays and programming."
ent
On February 26, 2024, Chairman Boles met with Mr. Foster and provided him a docum
true and correct
listing the titles of 113 books contained in the library's collection (the "list"). A
Mr. Foster to review the books on the list
copy of the list is attached hereto as Exhibit 1. He asked
. Chairman Boles
and to highlight any books that Mr. Foster believed did not have sexual content
have a recording
stated that he was going after books that had discussions of sex and sexuality. We
Board ever identify
of this conversation. At no point did Chairman Boles or any member of the
an Boles' public
the original source of the list. Mr. Foster learned only recently by Chairm
statements that he obtained the list from a group he referred to as "mad momm as."

him a
. On March 1, 2024, in response to Chairman Boles request, Mr. Foster emailed
books on the list.
detatled breakdown of his findings and impressions based on his review of the
ed eight (8)
A true and corr~ct copy of the email is attached hereto as Exhibit 2. Mr. Foster identifi
respect ing their status
books on the hst. that would require ~er clarification from the Board
(48) books on
und~r the Collection Development Pohcy. Mr. Foster further identified forty-eight
that has at least
the hst that appeared to have sexual content and ninety-five (95) books on the list
t to make certain conclusions
a tenuous connection to LGBTQ content. Mr. Foster was hesitan
2
 Page j3

due to the vague,

regarding the books' compliance with the Collection Development Policy
undefined tenns contained in that policy and the lack of Board guidance.
s. During
On March 4, 2024, Chairman Boles met with Mr. Foster and reviewed his finding
ess of certain tenns
the conversation, Mr. Foster expressed his concerns regarding the vaguen
ging the books
contained in the Collection Development Policy. Chainnan Boles discussed red-tag
to be moved . He told Chainn an Boles
and asked Mr. Foster whether the red-tagged books needed
books pendin g the final
that the policy was unclear and that he was unsure what to do with the
Foster also told
determination of their status under the Collection Development Policy. Mr.
ered the decision
Chainnan Boles that, pursuant to the Collection Development Policy, he consid
detenn ined by a vote
to relocate books to be a matter within the Board's discretion that should be
Mr. Foster that
of the Board in a transparent manner at an open meeting. Chairman Boles advised
labeled for eventu al placement in
he did not want the books removed from the library, but rather
a vote should be
an adult section where parents could still find them. Chainnan Boles agreed that
statements, he
held at the Board's May meeting. Contrary to Chairman Boles recent public
Foster's office) at that time and
specifically asked Mr. Foster to keep the books "in the back" (Mr.
a recording of this
until the Board could meet in May to hold a vote on the matter. We have
g.
conversation. Chairman Boles was aware Mr. Foster was recording this meetin
a position
On March 5, 2024, Mr. Foster received an email from you wherein you took
Foster. A true and
wholly inconsistent with Chairman Boles' March 4, 2024 conversation with Mr.
your email, you spoke in
correct copy of the email is attached hereto as Exhibit 3. Throughout
them. However,
terms of removing books from the library's collection, not in terms of relocating
he received your
Chairman Boles told Mr. Foster on numerous occasions (including the day before
books, not remove
March 5, 2024 email) that the Board merely intended to relocate the subject
an Boles had asked
them from the collection. Nonetheless, you informed Mr. Foster that Chairm
Policy. You claimed that, by
Foster ''to weed out books that violate" the Collection Development
ing a decision to
proceeding under the library's "weeding" policy,2 a vote of the Board approv
for clarification of
remove the books would not be required. With respect to Mr. Foster's request
informed him that
the status of the eight (8) books under the Collection Development Policy, you
ination on a book-
either you or any Board member could make such a policy compliance determ
ate your commu nication as an
by-book basis. Importantly, nowhere in the email did you design
attorney-client communication or as confidential in any way.
Alabama's
On March 7, 2024, Mr. Foster received a request for information pursuant to
Open Records Law from Jacob Holmes ("Mr. Holmes"), a reporter with the
Alabama Political
to Mr. Holmes's
Reporter. Pursuant to Mr. Foster's job duties and applicable law, he responded
5, 2024, email
request. As part of his response, Mr. Foster included copies of his March
correspondence with Mrs. Clark (discussed above).

for weeding if they are: Misleading and/or

Pursuan~ to the Library's "Weeding" Policy, "[mJAnna are candidates
2

g; supersed ed by a new edition or better source; trivial ( of

fac~lly macc~t e; worn ~ut ~yond ~en~ing or rebindin
of the community; available elsewhere
no d1scem~le bterary o~ scientific ment); rrrelevant to the needs and interests
not aligned with the selection criteria."
(the matenal may be easily borrowed from another source);
3
 Pag e f4

r and recommended that everyone

On March 8, 2024, Chainnan Boles called Mr. Foste
y acknowledged that Mr. Foster and you
meet to discuss what to do with the books. He specificall
disagreement among the Board members.
had different positions on this issue and that there was
books in Mr. Foster's office for months-
Chainnan Boles expressed concerns that maintaining the
a result, he suggested that Mr. Foster and
on-end would create an appearance of book banning. As
or otherwise, for further clarification with
the members of the Board confer, either by committee
books. We have a recording of this
respect to resolving this issue and for reviewing the
conversation.
"Open records requests") to all
On March 11, 2024, you sent an email (subject line:
you stated that "any communication from
members of the Board and Mr. Foster. In your email,
confidential." A true and correct copy
[you] to [Mr. Foster or Board members] is privileged and
stated that any such communication "thus
ofthe email is attached hereto as Exhibit 4. You further
outside person. Such actions are strictly
cannot be disclosed in an open records request or any
sion that you, or anyone else, had
prohibited by law." This was the first and only occa
al emails in response to open records
unequivocally instructed Mr. Foster not to provide intern
no other internal emails despite other open
requests. Thereafter, Mr. Foster complied and provided
records requests seeking the same infonnation.
ein Chairman Boles requested that
On March 12, 2024, you sent Mr. Foster an email wher
hall on March 14, 2023 at 4 pm." A true
Mr. Foster post notice of "an emergency meeting at city
bit 5. Chairman Boles' email contained no
and correct copy of the email is attached hereto as Exhi
nnan Boles to inquire about the purpose of
further infonnation. As a result, Mr. Foster called Chai
ing notice in accordance with applicable
the "emergency meeting" so that he could draft the meet
told Mr. Foster that the purpose of the
law. In that telephone conversation, Chainnan Boles
and character of someone" . . . and that he
"emergency meeting" was to "discuss the good name
er details and never advised Mr. Foster
"needed to be there too." Chainnan Boles provided no furth
d was considering the tennination of his
that he was the subject of the meeting or that the Boar
employment. We have a recording of this conversation.
rgency meeting" to order. Within
At 4:02 p.m. on March 14, 2024, the Board called its "eme
on of the Board. The motion to convene
seconds, a motion was made to convene an executive sessi
motion carried, and the Board entered
did not state any pwpose for the executive session. The
time that the purpose of the executive
executive session. Mr. Foster quickly learned for the first
g the executive session Chairman Boles
session was the tennination of his employment. Durin
dential internal emails in response to
became hos~ile; he accused Mr. Foster of releasing confi
that Mr. Foster should not have responded
Mr. Holmes s Open Records Law request; and he stated
itted on the proper form. Chairman Boles
to ~- Hol~es' re~uest at all because it was not subm
choice to resign or have his employment
then _unmediately mfonned Mr. Foster that he had the
nted Mr. Foster with a crude, preprinted,
te~mated by the Board._ Inde_ed, Chainnan Boles prese
immediate decision. A true and correct
fill-in-the-blank fonn resignation letter and demanded his
as Exhibit 6. Additionally, moments into
copy of th~ propo~ed resi~ation letter is attached hereto
ifhe was recording. Mr. Foster answered
~e executive ~ess1on, Cha1~an Boles asked Mr. Foster
recording was a "a major violation of the
1n ~e a~nn~ttve, and Chainnan Boles told him that his
further stated that Mr. Foster's record.in
law -which 1t was not. At 1!1at point, ~ou chimed in and
nt was a violation of federal Iaw-whicf
of what had become a meetmg to tennmate his employme
4
•

Page I5

g of the
it was not. Mr. Foster immediately and voluntarily ceased recording. We have a recordin
Foster was improperly instructed
open session and the first part of the executive session until Mr.
to stop recording.

After a brief consultation with his counsel, Mr. Foster informed Chairman Boles and the
to
other Board members that he would not voluntarily resign his position. The Board returned
ment
regular session, and Vice Chair Rachel Daniels made a motion to terminate Foster's employ
n of criminal law." The motion
"for revealing confidential information to the press and violatio
te
carried. In reality, the Board had already deliberated and made the decision to termina
Mr. Foster's employment before the March 14 special meeting, as evidenced by Chairman Boles'
rily
statement that the Board was either terminating Mr. Foster's employment, or he could volunta
accomp li
resign. In other words, the decision to terminate Mr. Foster's employment was a fiat
before the Board reconvened in open session to vote on termination.

Immediately after the Board's meeting concluded, Chairman Boles offered a copy of the
tion
Board's preprinted press release to members of the press. Like the preprinted form resigna
to termina te
letter offered to Mr. Foster, this press release was prepared prior to the Board's vote
Foster's
Mr. Foster's employment. To be sure, the preprinted press release initially stated that Mr.
press." Howev er, the
employment was terminated "for revealing confidential information to the
n of
Board chose to add to the preprinted, typed press release the handwritten phrase "and violatio
d, stated at the time of its release to
criminal law." Thus, the statement, collectively and as modifie
confide ntial
the news media that Mr. Foster's employment was terminated "for revealing
prepared
information to the press and violation of criminal law." The fact that the press release was
tion motion is further
and ready to be distributed even before the Board voted on the termina
Foster's
evidence that the Board had improperly deliberated and made its decision to terminate Mr.
employment before it convened the March 14, 2024, meeting.

Shortly after the Board's meeting concluded, Mr. Foster returned to the library to bid
areas
goodbyes to his colleagues. At all times during his visit, Mr. Foster remained in the patron
s to be
of the library. Mr. Foster was not disruptive, nor did he instruct anyone on the premise
arrived as well. Then,
disruptive. Soon after Mr. Foster arrived at the library, Chairman Boles
library
with~ut any explanation whatsoever, Chairman Boles demanded that Mr~ Foster vacate the
from the library. Many witness es
prenuses and he announced that he was permanently "banned"
and members of the news media observed this interaction.

III. FALSE AND DEFAMATORY STATEMENTS

.
Defamatory Statement No.1: Allegations that Mr. Foster Committed Criminal Acts

. Since _M~ch 14, 2024, you have made statements to the news media that Mr. Foster
Board's
co~tte d cnnu~al acts. The obvious purpose of your statements was to shore up the
on of
dec1s1on to_ tenrunate Mr. Foster's employment and to disparage and damage the reputati
nt
Mr. Foster m the :yes of city and county officials as well as the community at large. Your stateme
that Mr. Foste~ v10lated "~~ina l law" is patently false and defama tory. When "asked whether
"'I
you could c!anfy wha~ cnm1?,~l law Mr. Foster supposedly violated," you initially replied: After
could, but Im not going to. Jacob Holmes, Four Prattville Library Employees Fired
5
 Pag e 16

POL. REP. (March 15, 2024, 8:02 AM),

Closing Library to Stand with Fired Director, ALA.
ttville-library-employees-fired-after-closing-
https://www.alreporter.com/2024/03/15/four-pra
stated incorrectly that Mr. Foster's alleged
library-to-stand-with-fired-director/. Later, you n
Alabama Code Section 36-25A-6 (Alabama Ope
violation of"criminal law" arises under either b
bama's criminal eavesdropping statute). Jaco
Meetings Act) and/or Section 13A -ll-3 0 (Ala Nam e Inter im Dire ctor,
Holmes, Prattville Library Board Likely Brea
ks Open Meetings Law to
e-
https://www.alreporter.com/2024/03/18/prattvill
ALA. POL. REP. (March 18, 2024, 7:58 AM),
e-interim-director/.
library-board-breaks-open-meetings-law-to-nam
state with respect to recording private
Alabama, however, is a "one party" consent 5).
sdropping. See ALA. CODE§ 13A-l l-30(1) (197
communications for purposes of criminal eave
efore, any statement by you or Chairman
Mr. Foster clearly consented to the brief recording. Ther pping is false and libelous per se.
inal eavesdro
Boles that Mr. Foster committed an act of crim
n Meetings Act grants governmental bodies
Moreover, to the extent that the Alabama Ope
rding during executive session, penalties for
(like the Board) the authority to prohibit reco
in nature and decidedly not criminal. See id.
§ 36-
violations of the Open Meetings Act are civil
, the Board) must "adopt reasonable rules for
25A-9. Furthermore, the governmental body (here
r for it to be operative. Id. § 36-25A-6. We have
the implementation" of such a prohibition in orde the
implementing rules regarding the recording of
found no evidence that the Board ever adopted reco rdin g in thes e
federal law prohibiting Fost er's
Board's executive sessions. Finally, there is no false and
circumstances. As a result, your statements that
Mr. Foster violated "criminal law" are
defamatory per se.
Mr. Foster Revealed Confidential
Defamatory Statement No. 2 Allegations that
Information.
matory statement that Mr. Fost er revealed
Moreover, with respect to your false and defa Law,
that pursuant to the Alabama Open Records
"confidential information," it must be noted of
ery citizen has a right to inspect and take copy
Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, et seq., "[e]v te." ALA . COD E
rwise expressly provided by statu
any public writing of this state, except as othe d in
Open Records Law is to be liberally construe
§ 36-12-40 (1975). It is well settled that the rds
favor of disclosure ofpublic writings and reco
favor ofthe public and thus that a presumption in hip v.
is expressed therein. See Kendrick v. Advertise
r Co., 213 So. 3d 573 (Ala. 2016); Blankens
not aware of any statute prohibiting disclosure
City ofHoover, 590 So. 2d 245 (Ala. 1991 ). We are as
shared in the line and scope of his employment
of the public writings that Mr. Foster properly
Library Director.

confidential information" that fonned the

We understand that the so-called "revealing of 2024
e from Mr. Foster's release of his March 5'
basis of the Board's tennination decision aros n Reco rd Law
to reporter Jacob Holm es's Ope
email with you (discussed above) in his response e as a
communication was protected from disclosur
request. Apparently, you claim that this email
The only guidance ever provided to Mr. Fost
er
confid~ntial attorney-client communication. rew Odo m,
from the Prattville City Attorney, And
reg~ding ~en Records requests was an email
disclosable public records. A true and correct copy
stating that internal emails were not ''typically"
ibit 7. However, the Attorney General Opinion
of Mr. Odom's email is attached hereto as Exh
6
r----------------
Pag e I7

ed to internal emails "on possible actions to

(AGO 2017-036) Mr. Odom cites is specifically limit
March 5, 2024 email communication with
be taken by [an] agency." In this case, however, your by the Board, but rather whether the
Mr. Foster does not concern "possible actions" to be taken
vote of the Board. Furthermore, as set forth on
subject books on the list can be removed without a
not only do government records include emails
the Alabama Department of Archives and History,
conducting business, but also "Email records
created by a government employee in the course of
rding access as any of the agency's other
are subject to the same legal requirements rega
records law (Code of Alabama 1975, § 36-
government records, as governed by Alabama's open
ious irony, Chairman Boles offered to share
12-40)." Also, in what can only be described as a delic
is protected from disclosure by the attorney-
the Odom email (the type of email you now contend of AL.com. See
privilege) with reporter Kyle Whitmire
client
s-an-alabama-library-director-fired-read-
https://www.al.com/news/2024/03/whitmire-why-wa
between-the-lines.html.
do you designate the communication as
In addition, nowhere in your March 5, 2024 email
in any way. Further, at no time prior to Mr.
an attorney-client communication or as confidential
advise Mr. Foster to limit document releases
Foster's release ofthe email did you or the Board ever
not an attorney and was not able to judge which
in response to Open Record requests. Mr. Foster is
from you or the Board. The Board and you, as
communications are privileged without guidance
to review all responsive documents prior to
its counsel, could have requested an opportunity
city as Library Director, Mr. Foster provided
release, but this was not done. In fact, in his capa
no time have you or the Board ever requested
many responses to Open Records requests. And, at
matters or otherwise provided Mr. Foster any
to review documents designated for release on these
s or any other guidance on responding to such
guidance on alleged confidence or privilege issue
ama Political Rep orte r published an article
requests. The first directive came only after the Alab
It is undisputed, however, that once you advised
that placed both you and the Board in a poor light.
to release internal emails regarding your
both the Board members and Mr. Foster not
did not release such documents when there
communications, Mr. Foster complied and, in fact,
were other requests pending.
as to whom the privilege belongs. "The
In addition, there appears to be some confusion
t, not the attorney." Ex part e State Fan n Fire
attorney-client privilege belongs solely to the clien
d on your March 11, 2024 email, however, you
& Cas. Co., 794 So. 2d 368,377 (Ala. 2001). Base
on your own behalf and with respect to your
appear to be asserting the attorney-client privilege
n the fact that your emails reflect a change in
own communications. That is understandable give
should be permanently removed from the
your position regarding whether the books at issue
not yours to assert; rather the attorney-client
library or merely segregated. Yet, the privilege is
, is the Board's to assert. Moreover, we are
privilege, to the extent that it is even implicated here
regarding your email communications with
aware that you have made public postings on Facebook
Facebook Posts, Exhibit 8. Put simply, we see
Mr. Foster about the book controversy. See Clark
Mr. Foster pursuant to an Open Records Law
no basis for your claim that the emails released by
when you, as the Board's attorney, have openly
r~ue st were "confidential" in nature, particularly
rding the book controversy on a social media
discussed your communications with Mr. Foster rega
er revealed "confidential information" is false
platform. Therefore, your statement that Mr. Fost
and defamatory.

J
 Page 18

IV. DEMAND FOR RETRACTION, CORRECTION,AND APOLOGY

Mr. Foster takes these attacks on his character and reputation very seriously. Accordingly,
demand is hereby made that you immediately and prominently retract, correct, and apologize for
any such defamatory comments, including the aforementioned false and defamatory statements,
and that you publish a full and fair correction and retraction of each of the foregoing statements in
a public and prominent place and manner within five (5) days of your receipt of this letter.

This is to place you on official notice of this dispute and you are required to undertake
steps to affinnatively preserve, and not delete, any and all physical and electronic documents,
materials, information, and data, including without limitation all emails, text messages, instant
messages, Facebook posts or comments, and letters (including communications between you and
members of the Board and members of the news media), and memoranda, handwritten notes,
typewritten notes, audio and/or video recordings, etc. that pertain in any way to Mr. Foster, the
Library Board, and any and all statements made therein, and/or might otherwise be relevant or
related to the foregoing matters. All sources of documents, materials, information, and data should
be preserved, including, without limitation, physical files, electronic and digital files, computer
servers, email servers, backup tapes, cloud storage, personal computers, hard drives, smart phones,
tablets, and other types of storage devices including external drives, thumb drives, zip drives, disks,
and DVDs.

Promptly notify us whether you will set the record straight by immediately and prominently
retracting, correcting, and apologizing for the aforementioned false and defamatory statements.
Failure to do so will leave our client with no alternative but to consider all available legal remedies,
including but not limited to claims for defamation~ libel, and other available remedies. In the event
that a lawsuit is commenced, Mr. Foster will also seek his attorneys' fees and costs consistent with
applicable laws permitting recovery of attorneys' fees and/or costs.

As stated at the outset of this letter, however, Mr. Foster seeks to resolve this dispute and
to restore his good name and reputation in the community without the need to resort to costly and
time-consuming litigation. I strongly urge you to take advantage of this opportunity by retracting
and correcting your statements and by extending an apology to Mr. Foster for your actions.

•stopher W. Weller
Counsel for Andrew Fosier

cc: Andrew Foster

Encls.

8
r
APPENDIX A
24/03/16/prattville-library-
https://W\:v,v.n1ontgon1eryadvertiser.c01n/story/news/Iocal/progress/20
gets-interin1-director-amid-book-ban-controversy/7299863900 7/

director-andrew-foster-
https://eln1oreautauganews.conl/2024/03/l 4/prattvi 11 e-1 ibrary-board-fires-
protest-fo lJows/
board-of-trustees-
https://alaban1areflector.co1n/2024/03/15/autauga-prattville-public-libra1y-
tenninates-librarv-d irector/
-fired-after-closing-
https://www.alreporter. conl/2024/03/ 15/tow·-prattville-libraiy-employees
library-to-stand-with-fired-director/
e-library-chair-shares-new-
https://\\rww.alreporter.conl/2024/03/20/on-right-wing-radio-prattvill
insights-into-recent-events/
 EXHIBITS
i:.: '"1'.'~ , ·- ~-'.<~~ .. I
..... ",. DESCRIPTION
"<-7 r.. }/ .,,. ,,
~,~~Ya : c-:,d..,.,,..~; .:( .
~XHlBJ'F~
.,•;

l Rav Boles Book List

w of Book List
2 03/01/2024 Director Foster email to Chairman Boles re: Revie
ing
3 03/05/2024 Laura Clark Email to Director Foster re: Book Weed
03/11/2024 Laura Clark Letter re: Open Records Requ ests
4
/2024 Emergency
5 03/12/2024 Chainnan Boles Email to Director Foster re: 03/14
Meeting
6 Preprinted Resignation Letter
7 01/29/2024 Andrew Odom Email to Director Foster
8 Laura Clark Facebook Posts
 EXH IBIT l
Ray Boles Book List
I

Ray Boles Book List

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 Title Author Section

--
Being YI?~: a first conversation about gender

Bye bye, Binary

Madison, Megan

Geren, Eric
Children

Children

-
Calvin Ford, Ronald Children
...., ..
Door by door: how Sarah McBride became the Pincus, Meeg Children

-
first openly tronsgender senator
\ !• I• i '•

Konemura, Mork Children

-
I om o .rainbow
·.".,
Neal, Trinity Children

-
My rainbow
\.C,«'ll"

Red, a croi9n's story Holl, Michael Children 4-

- U.~'f ~. , l l..1. f "J 1\-,•L-r 1,, tl7r'47,c,
Ayalo-Kronos, Chris Children

-
The Pronoun Book
\.c,,.-n,
Together: a first conversation about love Madison, Megan Children
- \f.,:.•,-~

Yes! Nol A first Conversation about Consent Madison, Megan Children t

,It ,,., .."I ~r.,'t"",..

A storm of.horses Sanderson, Ruth Juvenile 1

_.. Lt.•·~.,~

Camp t Quiltbag Melleby, Nicole Juvenile

-
........ ,

Drew LeCloir Gets o Clue Bury, Kotryn Juvenile

\..:,"~'
Everything you always wanted to know about Hong.Gemma Juvenile
puberty_, and shouldn't learn on TikTok for '!
curious girls
~QI.~

Gender Identity for Kids Passchier, Ar:idy Juvenile

_., \,G.P;tU

If you're o kid like Gavin Grimm, Govin Juvenile

- \.C.~~

Jude Saves the World Riley, Ronnie Juvenile

L<,t.1Q

Lunch f[om home Stein, Joshua David Juvenile

......
.... L~T

Moonflower Callender, Kacen Juvenile

L1.. 1!;ft;

•1~' Nick and Charlie Oseman, Alice Juvenile

L ~BTa ' su~"' r•,'-· -

11<'· -....
Over the rainbow

Rabbit Chose
~81l'

Li&1Q
Davis, Rachael

LaPensee, Elizabeth
Juvenile

Juvenile

...
The lock eater
lc,P.'f':'

The meaning of pride

Clark, Zack Loran

Thor, Rosiee
Juvenile

Juvenile
_...to·~
 Medino, Nico Juvenile
...,..What I<•is"the aids crisis
IC'

wos stonewall
.. .,.., What 't.t-.) Medino, Nico Juvenile
r,
songs . .) Levlthan, David YAF
-:•• _,,,,19 love\..M1~ , H.w~I t"..¼"i; (lnt•t\1,,,

one time we did) Sharpe, Tess YAF

_,6 times we almost kissed (and
\(•(\~

Ello,; ZR YAF
the port
•• Acting1.<•t.,a:
.,.,,.

Lived Here Gino, Alex YAF

,.., Alice Austen
~C.0,-t\.

Santi were here Garza Villa, Jonny YAF

J,••
C-
Ander and
L~\')i~

Levithon, David YAF

Answers in the pages
\.C.•flrt\' ..... ,.111 • ,,..
..,
Saenz, Benjamin YAF
,L•~ Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the
Alire
~iver~ ;.l Benjamin Alire Saenz.
Winans, Justine YAF
Torre is afraid of everything
Bianca tC.it,P
.....
YAF

-
Blaine for the win Couch, Robbie
LC•61~

McCafferty, Megan YAF

Rosen,Lev YAF
'-' l••-- •
Camp·· .• ',,-•• •

Frasier; Crystal YAF

Cheer upl: love and pompoms/ Crystal Frasier
; illustrated by Val Wise ; letters by Oscar 0.
Jupiter.tr.e.iQ
..... ...,t\""
Chefs choice . . Alexander; T.J. Yi'AF • ~c1At;-
_. LC-!,TC. ~.,, ,' : ,.•• ,••

kiss Alexander; T.J. YAF - -:.'>-<1·-<c-' ,,.

Chefs
_ t,e-r<t. :,,,, ,........ P..f!

Clockwork Princess Clare, Cassondra YAF

.)<,\l,,f'I (coif\\'- l"I":'

"~ Concrete Rose Thomas, Angie YAF

!!1(-:C.. ,u,~I t•M<,_~?( ""<pl•t:t)

,,;i; Constellations Glosheen, Kate YAF

1.C.tTO.

ti•~ Cut McCormick, Patricia YAF ,

se\: N,,,,:

Darius the _great is not okay

v,d."f~
Khorram, Adib

Lukoff, Kyle
YAF

YAF
'
~--( Different Kinds of Fruit
- \.1,f?.fQ,

Rowell, Rainbow YAF I

,:.', Eleanor & Park
11\,,1, l•,5.,•.,,

.,ct Emergency Contact Mary HK Choi YAF

¼-.,,.\1 re,,,,,....,,•

Emma ond the love spell Ireland, Meridith YAF

.. ~,e;rQ.
Every/Joy Levithan, David YAF
- LUlT(,f~
ii

.. "
Everythi~Wl~!~~~ Santopolo, Jill Yf>F - 9...,.,,.., .,.
~F-
..•, Felix ever ofter
U,(>'TO lt,,al c,..,I,"\? Callender; Kocen YAF
Lt(f" Fine: a comic about gender
- LH,ic
Ewing, Rhea Yf>F - ~'-1C,tJ
... .A ...

Forbidden Suzuma, Tabitha YAF

'..o~•' (., .. ,.,
,1<\
Forever Blume, Judy YAF
S<.>vn \ r•rl'1,,,•

Fronki and Bug Foreman, Gayle Yf>F

.- u.1110

-
,,:-,,, Galaxy: 1k ~+tic Ji SI~" Axelrod, Jadzlo Yt>F
- \~e.,~
Girl on the line Gardner, Faith Yf>F
L,s,o
.,,,., Go Ask Alice
(("'' ,..,.~,..~ Anonymous Yftf
Godly Heathens Edgmon, H.E. YAF
- l't:ro
"·"'''
. ·'•
,,..
Going Bicoostal
\6C,,0, 5..... , i,,.I.,,\
Adler, Dahlia YAF

._,,...
--
Green
~U,TO

Heartstopper Volume 1
-

,~•'· Heortstop.,eer Volume 2

l•.~1Cl
Gino, Alex

Oseman, Alice
Yftf
YAF

_.... \(.. ,":

Oseman, Alice YAF
...
~rtstoRRW" Volume 3 Oseman, Alice Yftf
·,·/ .. Heortstop~er Volume 4 Oseman, Alice Yftf

-
- L~~'TQ

Hold me closer levithon, David Yftf

\;{•~~

,\<,\ How it All Blew Up Ahmadi, Arvin YAF

- 1,(,1!.W. 1,....1 f•*"t
c-u.s. I om Margaret Moore Copin, Hannah YAF

-
••, ..,.\ r""~"~

I kissed share wheeler McQuiston, ~osey YAF

1.0-~Q

-
If this gets out
L(,P,'fQ , •,,,.,11I r....lt" t Gonzales, Sophie Yftf

Nrl
-
Kiss & tell

L8r; G8r
\.(,{\'T Q,

~t~ut\ I i ."i. nl
So..111 c,lllt~\
Khorrom, Adib

Myracle, Lauren
Y/JF

YAF
r•h•~
Lost Night at the telegraph club Lo, Malinda YAF
- 1,.,e'T~ 1 )(.,,.( C11t>\t,-~
,fr4-
Looking for Alaska Green, John YAF
t

-
<.-. .- \ Ci•n~
.;,., Loveless Oseman, Alice YAF
l~'E.1~ , 1.,,.~1 '°"''"'\-
,,,

-
. Magic Boy The Koo YAF
Le.~~
 Mama's boy: a story from our Americas Block, Dustin Lonee
_ LG81<l

from you
Miles owoyL6Cl'TQ, Rutledge, A. B YAF
_ tc.,~"I u ..~.., t

-
My Fair Brody Kennedy, Brion YAF
1.61110

Nothing burns as bright as you Woodfolk, Ashley YAF

- ~8-rt\, ~""' ce.·.ltt"t?

-
Out of character Albert, Annobeth
L68T~. ~<>,.,' ""·-t.. +
Hopkins, Ellen YAF
,t') People Kill '-41!.'11;!'
People
.S~'<l,l\: , .......,,_1
• t
,... • •

Rona Joon and the one & only now Etoot, Shideh YAF
,.. ~:.e-to
YAF
•Jt'S Relish: My life in the kitchen Knisley, Lucy
se,c.,.,-\ Nt-1.,.•

1..1:t

-
Rumble

She gets the girl

l.~U\~~ I Sc.,v.-, I C~tl\i
Hopkins, Ellen
Lippincott, Rachael
YAF

YN=

11:~ --
Shiver Stiefvoter, Maggie YN=

,.,.~ So this is ever after . Lukens, F.T. YAF

,..- LC.610, $er.••,\ le<'"'f" ':

Sofi and the bone song Tooley, Adrienne Y/lF

- IC·~
levithan, David Y/lF
,, : ,
--
Someday
~:. ~ra'
• --~ Spin with me
_... LC.,ll10
Polonsky, Ami YAF

ai:J The absolutely true diary of .Q, port-time Indian Alexie, Sherman YAF
&,PQ(. , . , • • ·,
+-~1l.L•, t\.lc..,, to'ICl'}v

..,,f The Best Laid Plans Lund, Cameron YAF

S._"'-11' ~"-'"'

The Chandler legacies

~, ..... , , ·IJ,,.(f'#
Nozemion, Abdi YAF

- Abernathy Leoti, Michael YAF

,.,0 ,
.
The Civil War \.of Amos

-
The dead and the dark Gould, Courtney YAF
U!t'Q

•~• \.\\'.,~.'fnt"c
The Duff:V(-•~t..-,,,A\ \ Keplinger, Kody YAF
(•;\4.t'\~

..,~ The Hate You Give Thomas, Angle YAF

e,.~, ''1-""I ro.-•1••-

\.K~ The Haters Andrews. Jesse YAF

-
#1.iJ.,:r~ r.~,11... \ c,11~tl'\+-

.,,, Thelie Rutkoskl, Morie YAF

".,. The Luis Ortego survival aulde Reyes, Senora YAF

,..... \,.C.~'fQ, ,t,v.-1 ~t,i,vlHntt,,c,.-,.,.tf

0
"' ' The most dazzling girl In Berlfn Wilson, Kip YAF
- Lc,,a~, 1<1..I .,,o,.,I~
v0 s Toe one true me and you England, Rem( YAF
- ~i&Tq
-

EXHIBIT2
03/01/2024 Dir ect or Fo ste r email
to Ch air ma n Boles re: Review of Book Lis t
Children-YAF list
Andrew Foster <afoster@appl.lnfo>
F1i .3/1/2024 4:S7 PM
To:Rny Boles .;ray@rAybolcs.nc1>
0@gmafl.com>;logan Strock <lstroclc797@gmall.com>;Quincy
Cc:Doug Dan <b.usd,,rrOgnu1i1.com>;Glorf11 Kuykondnll <gck121
t!l>;Rnchol Ooniols <rdnnlclsllbrnry@gmall.com>
Minor <qnilnol'Cchnttcr.n

8 1 :tltMhmo"ts (372 t.:B)

t.ib1,1ry Ro,,m li~t ,\l\i\lysis.pdf;

gave me on the 26th. I've

As requested. I've taken the time to go through the 11st that you
forgive any parts that are diffi~ult to
attached my notes and highlighting to this email. Please
not scanning clearly . Per your instructions on the 26th, all
read due to my handwriting/pencil content or intercourse
t sexual
highlighted materials are ones that db not seem to have explici on how this list was
Any clarification from the board
based on the research I was able to do.
iated so I can understand
apprec
created and how/why the books on it were chosen would be
the guidelines used/intended.
in.eluded ba~ed on the research
There are 8 books that I nee.d clarification for why they were
library policy unless it is taken in
I've done this week, as they do not even seem to fit within the
the broadest possible strokes. Those titles were &ti;I. a Crayon 's Stont. (According to the author,
this is a book about his experience with dyslexia), Yes! Nol A
First Conversatjon about
Horses (The best I can assume is that this
Consent (No LGBTQ, no sexual content). A Storm of
been a lesbian. but that is
e some believe that Rosa Bonhe ur may have
was targeted becaus
d To Know About Puberty, , , And
not stated in the book), EY.e.,ry_tblog You Always Wante biology , which is exempted in
For Curiou s Girls (This is a book ab9ut
Shouldn't Learn On likTok is not covere d in the
rm, but that
the policies), Qw (This book seems fo be aboLJt self-ha nudity, but none of it is
seems to have some
policies), Darius the Great Is Not OkaY. {This book
abuse and bullying, but no
sexual in nature). Eleanor & Park (1his book seems to contain
and ~.Jlin g.Mtf il (This book seems to mostly revolve around
sexual intercourse/conduct), do not even include other
clarific ations
miscarriage and the struggles associated with it). These You: A First
except ion (such as possib ly Being
books that would fall under the biology
struggled to understand their
Conversation about Gender) or some other books that I also
inclusion (including ~...lla Y.).
are included for LGBTQ content,
By my best count, 95 out of the 113 books on the list (84%)
tenuou s at best. However, without those
though several of the LGBTQ connections are
why those titles were included on the list. 58
connections for several of the books, I am unsure
content.
of those books (51%) seem to be Included solely for LGBTQ
content based on the research 1
Only 48 of the 113 books on the 11st (42%) seem to have sexual
books before I could make an
was able to do, though I would need to actually confirm In the
anything in the book beyond
actual informed judgment. The line I tried to draw for this was
guidance in what qualifies as
kissing, whether explicit or not. As I've stated before, I need
Is a very broad spectrum.
'sexual conduct' as defined by the policy since that
section that the list claimed them to
There were also 6 books on the fist that weren't even In the
adult fiction section one fs shelved
be (YAF). Four books on the fist are already shelved In the
one In the adult biography section. Whfl~ these titles are
in the adult graphic novel section, and d in the policy changes.
create
certainly candidates for the red warning label system that was
 EXHIBIT3
03/05/2024 Laura Clark Email to
Director Foster re: Book Weeding

I
 l
Open Meetings Act and book removal
Laura Clark <laurac1ark8319@gmail.com>
Tue 3/5/2024 5:45 PM
;fstrock797@gmail.com
To:Rachel <rachelelizabethwood@gmail.com> ;Ray@rayboles.net <Ray@rayboles.net>
<bassdarrOgmail.com>;
<1strock797@gmail.com >;gck121 O@gmail.com <gck121 O@gmall.com >;bassdarr@gmailcom
gmall.com <Rd1fb.bo;ird@gmail.com>;qminor@ch1rter.net <qminorOcharter.net>;Andrffi Foster
Rdlib.board@
<afoster@appl.info>
Andrew,
the vote of
You asked a question regarding the b9ok list and whether they can be removed without
the whole board in ·a meeting subject to the Open Records Act.
to the Open
The short answer is the books may be removed without a meeting of the board subject
Records Act.

or a whole board
The Open Records Act attaches when a meeting involving a quorum of a committee
convenes to discuss and/or make decisions on a matter related to their purpose.

Book removal can be initiated the following ways:

1. At the request of a patron who went through the material reconsideration process
2. Through the normal course of weeding.
ration process,
If it is done through the request of a patron who went through the material reconside
a meeting and decision of the committee and the board subject to the
then it must be done through
Open Meetings Act

If it is done through the normal course of weeding, then a meeting is not required.

policy. You
In this case; you were asked by the board chairman to weed out books that violate the
examples. The Chairman advised you with a list of examples and asked you include them in
asked for
your weeding out.
Meetings
Thus it is not necessary the whole board meet to discuss this and be subject to the Open
Act

have done so
The Board has the right to exercise ultimate discretion over the book collection. They
here by enacting a policy that is to guide you as you weed out the books.

If a book does not violate the policy, that is a horse of a different color.

ask for an
For dealing with books on that list that you believe do not violate the policy, you may
be happy to take a
explanation on each title. I am sure one of the board members or myself would
look and advise whether it violates the policy and why.

Feel free to shoot me an email if you have any further questions,

Laura Clark
 I

EXHIBIT4
03/11/2024 Laura Clark Letter
re: Open Records Requests
 Open records requests
laura Clark <lauraclark8319@gmail.com>
Mon 3/11/2024 6:16 l'M
To:Rachcl <rachclcllzabothwood@gmail.com>:Ray@raybolcs.nct <Ray@rayboles.net>;Rd1lb.board@gm1ll.eom
<Rdlib,boc1rd®gmall.com>:Andrcw Fosler <1foster01ppl.lnfo>;bassdarr@gmall.com <bassderrOgmail.com>;
gck1210@gmnll.com <ls1,ock797@gm1ll.com>
All,
Please be advised that any communication from me to you Is privileged and confidential. It thus
cannot be disclosed in an open records request or any outside person. Such actions are strictly
prohibited by law.
Thank you,
laura Clark

4874-3880-2863. v I
 EXHIBITS
03/12/2024 Chairman Boles Email to Director Foster
re: 03/14/2024 Emergency Meeting
I

FW: emergency meeting

ray boles <ray@rayboles.net>
Tuo 3/12/2024 12:20 PM
To:Andrew Foster <afoster@i>ppl.lnfo> networks.com
Darr <bassdarr@gmail.com >;quincy.minor@i~•
CcRachel Oanlels <rdllb.board@9mall.com >;Doug k@acboe.net>;gck1210@gm ail.eom
rock@acboe.net <logan.stroc
<quincy.rninor@its-notworks.com>;logiln.st
319@ gmall.com>
<gck121 O@gmail.com>;Laura Clark <lauraclark8
sorry I left Laura out of the first email

From: ray boles

Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2024 12:19 PM
To: Andrew Foster <afoster@appl.lnfo> y.minor@its•
Doug Darr <bassdarr@gmall.com>; quinc
Cc: Rachel Daniels <rdlib.board@gmall.com>;
10@gmall.com
networks.com; logan.strock@acboe.net; gckl2
Subject: emergency meet ing

Andrew,
ized that we are having an
any other place that it needs to be public
Can you put on are Facebook, website, and
2023 at 4 pm.
emergency meeting at city hall on March 14,

Ray
 EXHIBIT6
Preprinted Resignation Letter