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Jackson County Commissioners recently discussed changes to the regional library agreement that Macon County recommended in November 2023. The new agreement, which will cover the libraries in Swain, Jackson and Macon Counties, includes changes to the board structure as well as a requirement that the library will be “socially and politically neutral.” BPR discovered some of the proposed changes aren’t in the document.
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After more than a decade of discussions about expansion at the Marianna Black Library in Swain County, the state budget will provide $3.2 million for the project.
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Jackson County Commissioners heard the 10-year review of the Fontana Regional Library Agreement, signed in December 2022 by Jackson, Swain and Macon Counties to work together as part of a regional library system.
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For the first time, stakeholders in the Fontana Regional Library system are negotiating the terms of the agreement. Calls to reconsider the tri-county agreement with the nonprofit system began in 2023. This summer county managers from Macon, Jackson and Swain counties began the negotiations.
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During a special board meeting, Fontana Regional Library board of trustees voted not to remove two books from circulation that had been officially requested for reconsideration. One book – “Let’s Talk About It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships and Being a Human” – was moved to the adult section of the library.
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Tensions build tension between the Fontana Regional Library System and the Macon County Board of Commissioners over the current collections policy.
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More than 50 people angry about inclusion of LGBTQ+ books on library shelves were turned away from public comment at Fontana Regional Library.
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During the county’s budget discussions in June, a $20,000 increase became a sticking point for some commissioners after they learned of a Pride display at the library. Since the library still needed funds, the community banded together to make up the difference.