Village Council Appoints Arthur Jaros Jr. to Library Board Despite Residents' Concerns

Arthur Jaros Jr. was appointed Aug. 18 to the Downers Grove Public Library Board of Trustees by the village council, despite concerns over his attempt in 1999 to remove a book from a reading list at District 99.

Downers Grove residents sent more than 150 emails to the village council in response to Jaros’ nomination for the board, according to council members at the meeting.

Mayor Martin Tully described that response as “unusual, but unusual for a designed purpose,” referring to communications sent by Kathleen DiCola, a library board member who urged residents to contact the village council.

DiCola wrote that she believes Jaros is the wrong choice for library trustee. She asked Downers Grove residents to
”ask the council not to appoint Art Jaros — who attempted to ban books, putting his personal ideology above others’ first amendments rights — to an irrevocable, 6-year term on our library board.”

Tully said he talked to Jaros and determined his actions 16 years ago were those of “a parent expressing a view about what their children were being involved in, which by the way, I think is a right that all of us as parents would like to have the opportunity to do.”

Tully said Jaros’ parental concern was not a form of book banning.

Commissioner Bob Barnett made a motion to table the resolution to appoint all 20 nominees to boards and commissions. He said he wanted more time to review the many emails. But after discussion, the motion to table failed 5-2.

Commissioner Greg Hose said the politicization of the issue started with the mayor.

“Nobody else mentioned politics,” Hose said. “It had to do with an issue, and if you read the article, you’re the one that brought up the politics. I think throwing it out there at the author of the particular email in question is disingenuous.”

Tully responded, “I just call balls and strikes as I see them.”

The resolution passed 5-2.

Click here to watch the full council discussions on the appointments to boards and commissions.