The discussion bounced from a program on world religions to the Bahai faith to the Ku Klux Klan.
It led to the Paul Sawyier Public Library Board voting unanimously last week to delete a reference in its "meeting rooms policy" that would prohibit a sectarian group from using the community room.
Board treasurer Mark Overstreet, an attorney, recommended the change to allow religious groups to use the community room. Overstreet said he researched the issue, "and it is very clear to me religious speech is equally protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution as any other type of speech."
While it is clear to Overstreet that religious groups can use the community room for "informational purposes," he is still researching "whether a governmental entity can allow a religious organization to conduct religious services on governmental property," such as in the librarys community room.
Overstreet said theres a "split of authority" on that issue in the courts. "Some courts say its permissible but not required. Other courts say its neither permissible or required. And language in some case suggests it is, in fact, required.
"Im trying to determine what our legal obligations are so the board can make its own policy decisions consistent with those obligations."
Board vice president Norm Snider said if the board starts saying it has "no choice whatsoever regarding any group that wants to talk in the community room, I think its opening a can of worms.
"I have no objections to people coming in and having religious discussions. However, I would have an objection to people coming in and having religious services."
In an e-mail to Overstreet and board president Mike Fields on Jan. 24, Snider objected to a program titled "Religions of the World," sponsored by the Bahais of Frankfort. An item in the Library News column in the Jan. 21 State Journal, said the library was co-sponsoring the program.
The newspaper column, submitted by the library staff, said the program would be "an overview of nine world religions. Some religions being discussed will be Judaism, Islam, Bahai and other various indigenous beliefs throughout the world.
"During the same time there will be a childrens programThe kids will learn about different religions through games, stories and a craft project."
Snider, in his e-mail, said it seems the Religions of the World program "is contrary to our recent regulations for the (library) meeting rooms, and is contrary to federal and state laws of separation of church and state."
An overview of nine world religions "is the standard line of the Bahaists to bolster their claim they are a significant world religion, which they are not," Snider said.
He believes the program is "clearly a disguised project for proselytizing for the Bahai religion. If we allow the Bahai to proselytize in a program co-sponsored by PSPL (the library), can we refuse any other religious group, such as the church of Dr. Moon, who hide their true intents behind 'educational programs?
"The Bahai is opposed by many other religious groups, and is considered by many, including this writer (Snider), to be an offbeat cult."
Snider suggested canceling or at least postponing the program until the board could discuss the issue.
The program, originally set for Jan. 28, was postponed because of a sprinkler leak in the library, causing the building to be closed for more than two weeks. It has been rescheduled for Sunday, March 18, from 2 to 4 p.m.
In response to Sniders e-mail, Overstreet said, "I do not believe Norms statements reflect the opinions of the majority of the board members individually and certainly they do not reflect the policies of the Paul Sawyier Public Library.
"I like Norm, but his characterization of the Bahai is not founded in fact In any event, in the final analysis it does not matter who is correct. The library should not be, and the First Amendment says it cannot be, in the business of making its public meeting space available only to those groups whose views are palatable to the board or its members."
In the Feb. 13 board meeting, Library Director Donna Gibson was questioned about the world religions program.
Gibson said Bahai members talked with Stacy Klink, coordinator of adult programming at the library.
"They have scholars coming in to tell about individual religions," Gibson said. "We felt it would be informative and that we could advertise it in the newspaper column as occurring here at the library."
When authors speak at the library, a member of the library staff sometimes introduces the author, giving background information, she said.
"That wont be the case with this," Gibson said.
She admitted it was a mistake for the library to say it was co-sponsoring the program.
Frankforts Julia Rome, a member of the Bahai faith, said it is definitely an educational program. She said people from different religions would participate.
Rome said the Bahai faith is "one of inclusiveness. Were not trying to convert people. We are not allowed to do that. The purpose of the program is to show the appreciation of all religions.
"I think its important to have a forum where people of different faiths can talk and open their minds and learn, to help individuals and humanity advance. The library would seem to be a perfect place to do that."
Klink, who is Jewish, said she is loaning a menorah holding nine candles for the Jewish festival of Hanukkah to the group for the program.
The Religions of the World program, along with other upcoming events in the library, is listed on a display board near the first-floor checkout and reference desks.
Overstreet asked whether Gibson, if the KKK had made a similar request as the Bahai faith, would have advertised the KKK program in the librarys newspaper column.
"Are they trying to inform the public about who they are?" Gibson asked.
As an example Overstreet said, "Yes, they want to tell the public who they are and what they believe that blacks, Jews, Catholics and foreigners are inferior to the Caucasian."
Gibson said its going to be a judgment call to a certain extent "no matter what We have to be careful we dont judge the information before we even have it. Every program Ive ever attended, I dont say I agree with everything. Ive attended programs because I want to be educated, even though I knew I wont agree with it, and didnt."
Overstreet said, "We are not interested in judging the content of a program when a third party is presenting it. Its just when the library gets involved in doing more than just providing the space."
After the meeting, Gibson said if the motivation of the people presenting a program in the library is to educate and inform, "then that follows our guidelines. If the point of the program is to incite hate that is not in the communitys best interest. I would refuse that for any group. That does not fit our mission or what we want to present."
Board member Gretchen Gillig suggested that Gibson check with the Lexington Library, "to see how its policy reads" regarding groups using the theater and art gallery. "Im sure they have had many requests for space," Gillig said.