Library at Risk Over Pride Display
In North Carolina, Jackson County residents rally to protect the future of their library.
What started as a complaint over a Pride display has turned into a multi-year debate over the future of the Fontana Regional Library System (FRL). Despite successfully serving the community for over 80 years, some residents are now pushing for the dissolution of the system to gain more control over library content.
If you aren’t familiar with regional library systems, they’re used to combine the limited library budgets of smaller rural counties to provide more robust library services to the region. They also create additional opportunities for state-level grants, further increasing funding. The Fontana Regional Library system provides services across three counties in Western North Carolina, Macon, Swain, and Jackson. A regional library board is responsible for establishing the library collections and display policy across all locations. That has become a sticking point for some.
It all started in 2021 when Macon County Public Library put up their annual Pride display - just as they had done for years. The display included picture books like A Church for All by Gayle E. Pitman, which captures a Sunday morning at an inclusive church that accepts all regardless of age, race, gender identity or sexual orientation, and Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall, about a blue crayon in a red wrapper who learns the importance of being true to your inner self. While the majority of the feedback from the community was positive, some residents objected to the display.
The library faced complaints for their Pride display again in 2022. This time, the complaints escalated to County Commissioners with calls for Macon to exit the FRL entirely. Fast forward to June 2025 when neighboring Jackson County Commissioners abruptly vote to exit the FRL system, citing a desire for more local control and concern over library content.
So if the issue started in Macon County, why is Jackson County the first to leave? It would take two counties leaving to fully dissolve the FRL so Macon County couldn’t do it alone.
In August 2024, after nearly two years of discussion, Macon, Jackson and Swain counties agreed to amend the FRL policies to give County Commissioners the authority to directly appoint regional library board members, opening the door for them to place individuals who align with their views.
The 2024 election saw two new Jackson County Commissioners elected. They used the new policy to replace two incumbent library board members even though they had expressed interest in continuing their roles. The new appointees do not appear to have prior library experience.
Then came the leaked emails.
The Smoky Mountain News dropped this report in February 2025 with leaked emails from a Macon County Library Board Member discussing a plan for how to exit the regional system without giving the public the opportunity to organize. The email states that “leaving the FRL needs to be discussed by commissioners in Macon and Jackson behind the scenes with a ‘surprise’ decision to leave.”
Here’s where it gets murkier. The Smoky Mountain News pointed out that while the email came from a Macon County Library Board member's government email, it was signed by her husband, who has been a vocal critic of the Pride displays at the Macon County Public Library in recent years.
The True Cost of Leaving
So what happens if Jackson County leaves their regional system?
A couple estimates have been shared on the cost of Jackson County operating their libraries independently. The estimates range from $500k to $1M more in annual costs. This likely means an increase in taxes for residents and/or reduction in the services available to the community.
In short, the move would cost residents more while reducing the value of the services provided to the community. This begs the question, is the decision truly in the best interest of residents?
Many residents believe it’s not. Several have come together to form Save the FRL, a group that aims to drive understanding of what’s happening and build community support for staying within the regional system. We spoke with two of their representatives, Kim Mason and Antoinette MacWatt, about their efforts and what’s at stake with the planned exit. “Our libraries offer an incredible amount of educational programming, and classes and gatherings are likely to be reduced. We are very rural, so many people rely on the library for internet access and technology education. We are concerned that staffing and library hours will be cut.”
The group originally represented all three counties in the FRL system, but with Jackson County being the first to vote to leave, they have shifted their focus. Their ultimate goal is to “reverse the Commissioners' decision so that Jackson County can remain within the FRL. Failing that, we hope to ensure that Jackson County maintains our libraries with the same level of services and programming that we currently have in our two libraries while fighting any censorship that new leadership may attempt to put in place.”
So far their group has seen a swell of support, something they hope to continue to grow. To ensure their numbers show, they wear yellow at local meetings and events. “We have seen huge support for the Regional Library System from the community. At a couple of Commissioner meetings, we had so many people show up that there was a packed overflow room and there were crowds outside waiting to get in. At one meeting, people spoke in support of the FRL and our marginalized communities for 4 hours.”
Jackson County is slated to leave the regional system in July 2026. The county will need to spend the next year proving that they can manage standalone libraries if they intend to follow through with their planned exit. With local primaries happening as early as next May for three of the County Commissioner positions, public opinion on their actions may become more of a factor.
From rallies to read-ins, Save the FRL is already planning several events to connect with the community and build a strong coalition of supporters who want to see their library stay the way it’s always been. Time will tell if their efforts are successful but to quote Margaret Mead, "Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has."
Save the FRL has recently launched a new website under JCPL Allies as they refocus their efforts on Jackson County. Visit their website to learn more.