Residents at Wythe County meeting urge continued library funding and contest Kanopy promotion

Dozens of residents who signed up to speak at Tuesdayf9s Wythe County Board of Supervisors meeting urged the board to maintain funding for the county library system, described the library as an essential community resource and raised objections to a library social media post promoting the streaming service Kanopy.

Why it matters: the remarks came as board members considered the countyf9s FY2026 budget and a $77,799 increase for the library. Speakers on both sides of the issue told the board the library serves residents across age groups and that funding decisions will affect access to programs and materials.

What speakers said Several speakers defended the libraryf9s role in the community. Volunteer and former library staff described the library as a safe place where seniors and families find technology help and social activities. Maddie Pitts, a volunteer, said, “The library was the first place that I found community out here,” and several speakers credited the library with widening educational opportunity.

Other speakers raised concerns about library content and a promotional social media post that encouraged patrons to use Kanopy. Annette Hall urged board members to investigate what she called “pornographic items” available to minors and said parents have “a basic right to know that their children are being exposed to books containing explicit literature.” Hall named the graphic memoir Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe and described it as an example of material she found objectionable.

Another speaker, Marcy Zon, told supervisors she saw a Grayson Regional Library post promoting the film Happy Birthday, Marsha, about activist Marsha P. Johnson and said the post misstated that the service was not funded by local tax dollars. Cindy McElrath also told the board that Kanopy charges libraries on a per-view basis and argued the county should not use tax-funded platforms to spotlight content some residents find inappropriate.

At the same time, multiple residents spoke against defunding or restricting library services. Jane Starling, who said she grew up relying on the local library, called defunding “an incredibly horrible idea” that would harm children and adults who depend on library services. William Bishop, a former library employee, said a library must include a wide variety of materials so patrons can judge them for themselves.

Speakers also raised accessibility concerns. One resident, who described a son who uses a wheelchair, said the town has few fully accessible public places and that the library is one of the few safe spaces available.

What the board heard and next steps Board members listened to public comment during citizensf9 time; the meeting transcript shows the public-comment period produced back-to-back remarks both supporting and criticizing library materials and promotional choices. No formal board action on Kanopy, collection decisions or library policy is recorded in the provided transcript. Several speakers asked the board to investigate whether library promotions used tax-funded channels improperly; the board did not announce a formal investigation during the meeting.

Ending Public commenters repeatedly asked supervisors to protect library funding and to preserve broad public access to library services; others urged stricter controls on what the county promotes on official platforms. The transcript records extensive public comment but does not show subsequent board direction or policy changes on the issues raised.