Residents debate library children’s books at Josephine County meeting; some urge protecting library services

Public comment at the Josephine County Board of Commissioners meeting focused heavily on the county public library, with speakers offering sharply different views about children’s books and the library’s future.

Heidi Napier, a Grants Pass resident, presented four picture books she said she had removed from the children's stacks during recent visits and said they "are pushing transgenderism," naming titles including Who Are You? The Kids' Guide to Gender Identity and Sam Is My Sister. Napier asked the board to address what she described as inappropriate material for young children.

Other commenters defended the library’s community role and warned that changing the library’s operations or terminating its lease would harm services. Kelly Carter described long personal ties to the library dating to 1963 and said the library functions as a community center offering meeting space, computer access, children’s programming and a “library of things.” Carter asked whether county negotiations that the public has reported involve a $1-per-year lease and whether deferred maintenance is the reason for lease negotiations. She urged the board to consider other county-owned properties or funding sources before disrupting library services.

Supporters of keeping challenged materials accessible said representation matters for LGBTQ young people. Teacher Erin Cook told the board that “representation and acceptance” matter and attributed high suicide attempts among LGBTQ youth and transgender adults as reasons for inclusive materials; Cook framed the books as representation rather than promotion. Other speakers urged that if parents object to specific books they should not check them out, or should consider homeschooling, while also asking the board to make sure children’s sections remain suitable for young readers.

Speakers on both sides asked the board to be transparent about the reason for any lease negotiations and for alternative funding options. Several commenters said they wanted clearer public information about deferred maintenance claims and whether the county had other properties that could be used to address maintenance or office needs. The board did not take a vote on library policy at the meeting; commissioners invited further conversation and said they were available for appointments.

The library topic drew multiple speakers and repeated references throughout public comment, but there was no formal board action or ordinance change relating to library materials recorded in the meeting minutes.