CHESHIRE - Despite a heated outcry from some residents, the Library Advisory Board voted 5-1 Monday in favor of Library Director Ramona Harten's decision to put "In the Middle of the Night" by Brian McDonald on the shelves.

"The policy has been followed," board Chairwoman Carol DiPietro said about the selection.

The book about the 2007 Petit killings has been opposed by some who say it is a slap in the face to the sole survivor of the attacks, William Petit Jr., and breaks a court gag order on information about the case before the trial.

Others have argued that keeping the book out of the library is censorship and contradicts the purpose of a public library.

Monday's meeting included reports from Harten on why the book was purchased and Town Attorney Dwight Johnson on the implications of the gag order.

Harten said the book was brought to her attention by a reporter in October, and that by September she had four written requests for the book from town residents. That number grew to about 20 in November.

The library has a policy of buying books that are requested by a number of patrons and that have a local connection.

"Based on the library materials-selection policy and the strategic plan, we determined that the book met the requirements of evident popularity and relevance to Cheshire," Harten said.

Johnson said he reviewed the gag order and found nothing that would imply that the library or McDonald were prohibited from revealing details of the case.

"The order in fact on its face was specifically limited to the New Haven state's attorney's office and its agents … The judge also stated explicitly that the gag order was not being imposed upon lay people or witnesses," Johnson said. "The gag order does not cover the library and does not preclude it from including this book on its shelves."

Johnson also said the Town Charter gives discretion in materials selection to the library director and not the board.

"It does not have any authority to direct the library director," he said of the board.

Despite the lack of authority, the board voted to support Harten's decision to put the books on the shelves. DiPietro, Dolores DiNicola, Terry Grahame, Joy Hostage and Craig Wilson voted in favor of the motion, while Marilyn Bartoli voted against it.

Bartoli's vote was followed by applause. DiPietro's announcement that the motion had carried was also followed by applause - from other areas of the room. About 60 people attended the meeting in the library's Mary Baldwin Room.

Bartoli said there are thousands of books published every month, not all of which are in the Cheshire library.

"A deliberate choice was made to (buy) this one," Bartoli said.

Kimberly Mach, a town resident, agreed, saying Harten was only trying to bring attention to herself by choosing the McDonald book.

"She doesn't live in this town, she doesn't have a clue" how people feel about the killings, Mach said.

Mach said she wants the book held until after the trial as a show of respect and solidarity with Petit.

"Let's not add insult to injury," Mach said. "What does he have left except for this town?"

DiPietro said she had gotten e-mails and letters from people about the issue.

"Most of the them have been in favor of keeping the books on the library shelves," she said. "The majority of the e-mails were in support of the library."

Mach said she will continue to fight the inclusion of the book, and will stop using or supporting the library.

"We're going to go have to go after this from a different angle," she said. The library has a form for patrons to use when they have a grievance with material, and Mach said she will encourage residents to use those forms to express their opposition to the book.

An online petition against any distribution or sale of McDonald's book is also circulating and has more than 1,300 names.

jbuchanan@record-journal.com

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