Yancey County Commissioners faced a packed meeting room at their regular monthly meeting on Monday evening. The issue the people came to address was the possibility of Yancey splitting from Avery and Mitchell libraries.
During the June 12 commission meeting, Chairman Jeff Whitson made a motion to give the county manager the authority to begin the process of taking over the library system and turning it into a total county-run library. Whitson said this would ensure there was no bias shown to any religious, political or ethnic platform.
Many think the idea for the change is in response to the LGBTQ Pride display at the library during the month of June.
Some citizens spoke concerned about children being exposed to LGBTQ books. Other citizens said that the library should continue to be welcoming to all people.
AMY Regional Library Director, Amber Westall Briggs, said the library is for all people and said the regional system provides opportunities and resources that local governments are not capable of providing.
Commissioners will meet with the library director and library board of trustees at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the meeting room of the Yancey County Library. The meeting is open to the public.
