Jamestown’s Patmos Library Closed Early Monday Over Safety Concerns
A West Michigan library that's been making national headlines after getting defunded by voters over LGBTQ books had to shut down early Monday.
According to a post on the Jamestown library's Facebook page,
Due to staff safety concerns, the Library will be closing early today, Monday December 12 at 5pm.
An update has not been posted to the library's Facebook book page, but I am assuming it resumed normal hours on Tuesday.
Fox 17 reported last week that Ottawa County deputies were investigating after the Patmos library was targeted in a perceived threat on social media.
Residents weighed in on the situation in the comments, with many expressing concern and supporting the library and its staff.
Holly wrote,
This is the most ridiculous thing. I cannot believe the community is behaving this way. It’s embarrassing.
Glenda said,
As a retired librarian I am horrified by the ordeal your staff has and continue to go through. I pray for the safety of you all.
Krisandra commented,
When a library is threatened , we should all fear for the safety of our children. This behavior will make more of an impression on our children than a book.
Lynn shared a different opinion,
I have an extreme hard time believing any of this. Why would anyone who voted "no", to protect children from sexualization from these books, be threatening staff? It doesn't make sense. There would be no reason for this. I hope if there really was a threat of any kind, they catch who did it. I would not be surprized if it is fabricated or done by someone with the intent to make it look as if its from the "no" voters, to try and make it look as if it is a "hate crime".
In case you haven't been following the story, the Patmos Library fell into controversy after Jamestown residents objected to some young adult books that were being offered, including the graphic novels "Gender Queer: A Memoir" by Maia Kobabe and "Kiss Number 8" by Colleen A.F. Venable and Ellen T. Crenshaw.
Recently two Grand Rapids business owners stepped up to try to help keep the library open. Andy and Tracie Wierda, owners of the Derby Inn, donated $100,000 to the Patmos Library.
A GoFundMe for the library has raised more than $260,000.
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