Although George Goldstone claimed that it was his right under the Michigan constitution to be able to check out books from any public library in the state, Oakland County Circuit Judge Denise Langford Morris ruled May 13 that the constitution does “not intend to take from local libraries the right to control the circulation of their materials.” Bloomfield Hills residents lost their borrowing privileges in November 2003 when the city ended its 39-year contract with the township library in a dispute over fees.
Goldstone said in the May 18 Detroit News that he is considering his next steps with his attorney. Dorothy Brodie, a member of Friends Like Cards, a group supporting the lawsuit, said members will likely meet soon to discuss other options. “We can possibly petition the city to reconsider their decision not to pay the township the money the library is seeking,” she said. “But I don’t hold out a lot of hope because officials were pretty adamant when they broke off negotiations.”
Michigan Library Association President Linda Farynk said in the May 17 Detroit Free Press that the ruling was “good news for Michigan public libraries.” Librarians had feared that a victory by Goldstone could have jeopardized the 206 service contracts Michigan libraries have with local communities.
Posted May 20, 2005.