The Josephine Community Library Board is firing back against recent claims that it has canceled a highly anticipated meeting with the Josephine County Board of Commissioners. The tension surrounding the meeting, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 13, 2025, is the latest chapter in an ongoing battle over the future of the library’s lease. The library board is asserting that it remains fully committed to the discussion and will be present as planned.
“We have not canceled the meeting on Thursday,” said Gina Marie Agosta, President of the Josephine Community Library Board. “We fully intend to be there at 10:30 a.m., as agreed. Both our vice president and I have taken time out of our workdays, and we hope the county will show up as expected. We’re still waiting to hear exactly what it is the commissioners want.”
The confusion stems from statements made by Commissioner Chris Barnett, who implied that the library had withdrawn from the meeting. According to Barnett, he received correspondence from the library’s attorney, who allegedly stated that the meeting “may not bear any fruit” or “may not be very efficient,” as quoted in a press release from Barnett. Barnett’s remarks, amplified on social media and local news outlets, were quickly challenged by the library board. The board clarified that it was simply awaiting a clear proposal from the county regarding the lease and had never canceled the meeting. As a result, Barnett’s suggestion that their attorney had canceled it is particularly misleading and concerning.
According to Agosta, the library board has been put in the position of waiting for actual terms, rather than being expected to “bid against itself.” The county’s suggestion of raising the rent—currently set at a symbolic $1 per year—has raised significant concerns, especially as the county has yet to present a formal proposal.
“Suggesting that the library canceled the meeting overlooks the fact that we’re simply waiting for the county to be clear about what it wants,” Agosta said. “Our board is ready to review any proposal the county brings forward. We’re committed to transparency in these negotiations, and we are determined to ensure the process is open to the public.”
For years, the library has operated under a long-standing lease with the county, which has allowed the library to fulfill its mission of providing essential services to residents at minimal cost. However, the county’s recent push to alter the terms of the lease has sparked concern about the future of this vital institution. The library board maintains that any changes to the $1-per-year lease agreement should be made with full public input and in accordance with the county’s constitutional mandate to provide for the support and maintenance of the library and its branches.
“We’re awaiting clear, detailed terms,” Agosta said. “The community deserves a transparent process, and we are ready to discuss how to best protect and maintain these essential library services for Josephine County residents.”
The situation is charged with political tension. A January vote by the County Commissioners, which passed unanimously in a 3-0 decision, granted the county the authority to charge rent or even evict the library, triggering outrage among many local residents. This decision was backed by newly elected Commissioners Chris Barnett and Ron Smith, with former Commissioner John West at the helm. Since then, Barnett, Blech, and Smith have upheld the decision, showing little urgency to resolve the matter, further fueling concerns within the community.
In the wake of the vote, Commissioner Barnett took to social media, attempting to downplay the situation by claiming the library was not being forced out. He assured the public that everything was “fine,” a statement that has left many questioning the integrity of the process.
“Barnett’s claims that everything is fine and that the library canceled the meeting are simply false,” said one local resident. “It’s a pattern we’ve seen before. Commissioner Barnett says one thing and does another, but then turns around and accuses others of spreading ‘fake news.’ The reality is, his own words now stand as evidence that he is the one spreading misinformation.”
Barnett’s comments have added fuel to the fire, further souring relations between the library board and the county commissioners. Many in the community are now demanding greater transparency and accountability from their elected officials.
As the clock ticks down to the meeting on March 13, it remains to be seen whether the commissioners will show up as promised. If they do not, the library board is determined to ensure the public remains informed about the status of these crucial negotiations.
The future of the Josephine Community Library may be uncertain, but one thing is clear: the library board is prepared to fight for what it believes is right for the community. Whether or not the county commissioners show up at Thursday’s meeting, the library board intends to make sure the people of Josephine County know exactly what’s at stake.
In the end, the issue is more than just a dispute over rent—it’s about the values of transparency, accountability, and the essential role that the library plays in the lives of the people it serves. And for now, the library board is making it clear that they won’t back down without a fight.
The March 13 meeting was initially scheduled as a joint session between the Library Board and the County Commissioners, to address the lease negotiations. In the event the county board does not attend, the library board has pledged to remain transparent and will convene outside the Anne G. Basker Auditorium at 10:30 a.m. for a press conference to provide updates to the public.
