Marianna Black Library is not closing.
“A lot of people have asked if the library is going to close and we are not going to close,” said Jeff Delfield, librarian. “People think Jackson will close, too. That’s not going to happen. I am concerned for my colleagues who work in Jackson.”
Delfield added his concern for Fontana Regional Library employees who cover technology, financial resources, literary resource sharing, human resources and more.
“FRL offices has five employees,” said Delfield. “I don’t see who could be laid off.”
Sara Daniels functions as FRL’s office manager.
“Lay-offs could be a possibility,” Daniels said. “I am sure there will be some impact and long-term consequences.”
This follows Jackson County Commissioners’ decision to withdraw from the regional library system, which is set to take place in July 2026.
Jackson County submitted of a letter of withdrawal to the state, FRL, Swain and Macon counties July 1.
“The state oversees the FRL agreement because we get state funding,” said Delfield, upward of $400,000 annually disbursed between the three libraries.
FRL will receive the full amount this year. FRL stands to lose roughly $100,000 if Jackson County pulls out of the system.
“Swain and Macon will make up FRL if Jackson drops out,” Delfield said.
Jackson County Commissioners have approximately one-year, up to June 30, 2026, to decide to stay in the FRL system.
“It is a year-long demonstration period,” Delfield said. “A lot of things have to happen. Jackson has to provide documentation that they can run the library.”
Hundreds of Jackson County residents have stood in solidarity with FRL. Their voices have mostly fallen on deaf ears. Some stood by the commission’s decision to leave. Jackson County Board of Commissioners chairman Mark Letson was the only commissioner to vote against leaving the FRL system in a 4-1 vote.
In June 2022, a complaint was made in Macon County concerning its LGBTQ+ display.
Marianna Black Library did not have a pride display.