Sarah Palin only harassed the librarian in an attempt to extend her authority outside of its normal bounds. If the community hadn't responded, she might have succeeded in her aim.

I have been here before. This is how it works: The "inquiry" is delivered over and over: asked and answered, as they say in debate. It's a way of making one's wishes known without leaving discernable footprints. The original threat has to work. For them to take the yard, first you have to give the inch. The inch was not given.

Enough of a stink was made to guarantee that people were watching for subsequent attempts, so she backed off, having other items on her agenda. Still, the inappropriate use of power to attempt to make someone betray her professional ethics is noted.

You'll notice that the librarian resigned her directorship just before Palin was elected to her second term. I'd like to know the story behind that. My guess is that she wasn't up for another term of hell.