PELLA, Iowa (AP) — Voters in a small Iowa city narrowly decided not to support giving their City Council more power over their local library. Just over half the voters in Pella rejected an advisory vote on whether the City Council should have more power over how the library spends its money and whether it pulls certain books from shelves, the Des Moines Register reported Wednesday. Opponents of the Pella measure persuaded voters that it's better to keep the library somewhat insulated from politics. Like in many Iowa communities, the City Council-appointed library board has control over spending, who to hire as director and whether to remove books that are challenged. A group of residents asked the library board in late 2021 to either remove “Gender Queer” or put it behind the checkout counter where kids can't get it.

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Persons: Maia Kobabe’s, Donald Trump, ”, Anne McCullough Kelly, “ It’s, equitably Organizations: — Voters, Council, Des Moines Register, American Library Association, City Council Locations: PELLA , Iowa, Iowa, Pella, City