Fired Wyoming Librarian Sues Library Over Daughter’s Facebook Post on Working Conditions
Converse County Library Fired Circulation Clerk Over Teen Daughter’s Facebook Post
A former Glenrock librarian filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for Wyoming this week, alleging that the Converse County Library and its director terminated her employment in retaliation for her teenage daughter’s social media post about severe working conditions inside a sweltering building, cowboystatedaily.com reported.
Erin Wolfley, who worked as a circulation clerk at the Glenrock branch starting in March 2019, argues that library leadership violated the First Amendment. The complaint opens by highlighting the irony of a public library district punishing protected speech, stating that the action arose from cognitive dissonance.
The Tech TL;DR:
- The Core Dispute: Former Glenrock library circulation clerk Erin Wolfley is suing Converse County Library and its director after being fired over her teenage daughter’s Facebook post detailing indoor heat conditions.
- The Physical Conditions: Staff allegedly worked in building temperatures reaching 85 to 90 degrees during a June 2025 heat wave after the facility’s HVAC system failed.
- The Legal Action: Filed in U.S. District Court for Wyoming, the lawsuit seeks declaratory relief, economic recompense, damages for suffering, and punitive damages.
Failing HVAC Units and Summer Heat Waves in Glenrock
The lawsuit details a history of heating and air conditioning failures at the Glenrock branch dating back to its opening in 2015. The library previously closed or relocated operations due to climate control breakdowns in August 2019, January and February 2021, and January 2024. County records show that officials spent more than $130,000 on repairs through 2021, while a complete $1.5 million replacement system was slated for spring 2026.
In June 2025, another cooling failure coincided with a regional heat wave. According to the complaint, staff members worked in indoor temperatures ranging from 85 to 90 degrees downstairs and exceeding 80 degrees upstairs for more than a month. By June 9, employees turned off the interior lights to reduce heat accumulation.
When Glenrock branch manager Jennifer Kofoed asked Library Director Mary Lin Maner for guidance on closing the facility for safety on June 11, Maner reportedly stated that the conditions were not dangerous. She instructed employees to stay hydrated and wrap cold towels around their necks.
A Teen’s Facebook Post Sparks Retaliation Allegations
On the day of the exchange, Wolfley asked her daughter Aspen, who was one week shy of her 18th birthday, to bring ice to the library. Wolfley also sent her daughter a photograph of an interior thermometer registering 90.5 degrees.
Aspen subsequently published a message on the private “Glenrock Rant and Rave” Facebook page. The teen expressed concern that librarians were working in a 90-degree building, detailed the director’s advice regarding cold towels and water, and questioned why staff could not go home to cool down while waiting for fans to arrive. The post did not mention any library employees by name.
Wolfley stated she had no prior knowledge of the post. Upon learning about it on June 13, she asked her daughter to remove it, citing concerns about the teen’s prospective janitor job at the library and her view that social media was an ineffective advocacy tool. Aspen deleted the post that afternoon.
Interrogation and Termination of Library Staff
Maner accused Wolfley of violating library confidentiality and representation policies by disclosing internal information. Wolfley’s attorneys maintain that these policies do not bar employees from discussing working conditions with their families.
Maner also interrogated Kofoed, criticizing her for failing to investigate and report the social media post. After Wolfley emailed the library board and county human resources director without receiving a response, Maner summoned Wolfley and Kofoed to a follow-up meeting on Wednesday and fired them both.
Wolfley Seeks to Protect Public Library Mission
Wolfley emphasized that her primary motivation is protecting the traditional mission of public libraries as open, welcoming community spaces.
Board Chair Michelle Moe declined to comment on the filing. Library Director Mary Lin Maner did not respond by publication to a voicemail message left regarding the lawsuit.