The Warren County Library Commission meeting had a limited agenda since bylaw revisions are still in the works, but once again public comment dominated the Tuesday, June 24 meeting amid ongoing concerns over governance and transparency.
The commissioners did have some good news. They reported that the county IT department secured a grant expected to save the library nearly $5,000 annually on internet services from Brightspeed. The county will also pursue additional grants to support services it provides the library.
Rather than hire a new replacement IT expert, the library will now rely on the services of the county IT department for technical support.
Retiring Staff Member Questions Board’s Responsiveness
Library Director Jill Butcher announced a few upcoming retirements, among them Meryl Barny-McGinley, the library’s administrative secretary.
Barny-McGinley delivered pointed criticism of the commission’s recent conduct and direction.
“I have remained quiet for a long time,” she said, before reminding the commissioners that they took an oath to support the Constitutions of the United States and the State of New Jersey. She questioned how seriously the commissioners took that oath, citing County Commissioner Jason Sarnoski’s past comments that he appointed board members because they share his conservative Christian values.
“Is this implying that the remaining Christians are not true Christians,” she asked, “because they might have different views or opinions?” She continued: “A true Christian accepts all kinds of people — all religions, races and creeds. It means loving all mankind.”
Barny-McGinley said previous commissioners weighed decisions more thoughtfully before making decisions on behalf of the library. She noted that the current commissioners rely on their personal opinions. She also said the current commission no longer reads public correspondence aloud at meetings, and claimed they rarely respond to letters written to the commission.
“You will never get the respect that the previous commissioners received,” she said. “They earned it over many, many years of hard work and dedication.”
“The one thing you do is ignore everyone equally,” she added, criticizing what she described as a lack of responsiveness to public input.
Her remarks echoed broader concerns raised by the Warren County Freedom to Read group, which has accused the commission of favoring the removal or re-shelving of certain books — claims the commission denies.
Commissioner Cathleen Geckhardt, a kindergarten teacher at White Township School, denied that any books have been removed or relocated. “We try to lead with responsibility,” she said.
Book Flyers, LGBTQ Themes Spark Outrage Among Residents
Members of Freedom to Read were also present at the meeting.
Sarah Hare, a member of the group, said the appearance of BookLooks on flyers in local libraries sparked lasting concern among patrons. The BookLooks website categorized books as either acceptable or unacceptable for children, without providing explanation or identifying who created the ratings.
Hare said she believes the BookLooks website was produced by members of Moms for Liberty, a right-wing conservative group, although no reference was made on the website. “The flyers triggered a lot of anger,” she said. The books targeted by BookLooks weren’t just those about sex, she said, but also featuring Black or LGBTQ+ themes.
Many members of Freedom to Read, including two children of Holocaust survivors, expressed outrage that books such as Elie Wiesel’s “Night” were marked as unacceptable.
Judy McDonnell raised concerns about a specific book she considered sexually explicit and accessible to children. In response, resident Kelly Nemeckay said the book in question is a sex education guide shelved in the Young Adult section, intended for ages 12 to 18, and emphasized that the library requires young children to be accompanied by an adult while browsing.
Resident Shelley Harvey pointed out that it’s up to parents to decide what is appropriate for their own children.
“Nobody tells you what you must read,” added resident Monica Scott. “You can’t stop other people from reading.”
Resident Judy Freger questioned whether critics of certain books had read them in full, urging them to consider the context before calling for removal.
Trust, Transparency and Legal Spending Raised
Freedom to Read founder, Sandy Roberts, noted that books matter, even those that offend some people. She said in all the meetings she has attended she has not heard any evidence that children have been harmed by the content in question.
She praised the professional organizations that provide training to library staff and guide collection recommendations based on research and standards.
However, she warned that the controversy has eroded public trust in the commission.
Many members of Freedom to Read are also active in the Friends of the Library, a nonprofit that supports local branches.
Susan Nordell told commissioners the Friends are currently raising funds for a new cart at the Gardner Branch. She also questioned the cost of legal representation at commission meetings.
Nordell said a public records request revealed that attorney Joseph Bell has been paid $12,835.50 between Jan. 1 and June 1, 2025. By comparison, she noted, the previous board attorney was paid just over $7,000 for all of 2024.
The commission does not plan to meet again until the fall.
Jane Primerano is a veteran journalist covering Warren County municipalities, agriculture, and historic preservation. Her work has appeared in New Jersey Monthly, New Jersey Farmer, and more. A past president of NJ Press Women and SPJ NJPro, she lives in Hope Village and enjoys music, singing with the Warren County Community Singers, reading, and the Jersey Shore.
- Jane Primerano, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/jane-primerano-contributing-writer/
- Jane Primerano, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/jane-primerano-contributing-writer/
- Jane Primerano, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/jane-primerano-contributing-writer/
- Jane Primerano, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/jane-primerano-contributing-writer/
