Are the widely publicized "budget cuts" at the Washoe County Library System as severe as portrayed? Executive Director Jeff Scott's warnings about losing 22 staff members, cutting hours, and other dire consequences deserve closer scrutiny. Are his comments factual? We don’t know.

Despite knowing the $4.5 million in funding was at risk, there's been no transparent sharing of budget analyses or alternative scenarios from Executive Director Scott. While Scott controls the system's messaging and media narrative, taxpayers and library patrons remain in the dark about actual financial planning.

Tuesday, November 19, 2024, during the Washoe County Board of County Commission meeting we were struck by the number of public commentators regarding the loss of the Washoe County Library WC-1 Ballot Measure.

It is interesting to note the group behind the library petition is not even taking a break to draw breath to learn what cuts in staffing or services will be necessary if the library loses the $4.5 million funding afforded them prior to the ballot measure failure. The library just needs the money, but this is based on what Library Director Jeff Scott is saying.

Picon is clearly confused, but that would be nothing new.

We received an email forwarded by Commissioner Mike Clark yesterday regarding the decision by the Washoe County WVC Workplace Violence Committee to cease hosting PRIDE events at the Washoe County Libraries.

Remember back on June 20, 2023, when there were twenty applicants for the appointment of a Washoe County Library Board Trustee. After having to hear Appointed Commissioner Clara Andriola drone on about how she contacted each applicant we were close to a boredom included coma.

Public records from a citizen’s request regarding the Washoe County Library.

There’s an old saying that every man/woman has a right to his/her opinion, but no man/woman has a right to be wrong in their facts.

Picon was having a difficult time understanding these folks’ frustrations, so we decided to ask for some public records. It took a while to gain access, but we only needed to receive one email and it basically explained EVERYTHING. Remember when you were young and forced to sit at the ‘kids table’ during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter – all you wanted to do was move to the adult’s table. It is the same with the residents who are speaking at the commission meetings about the library, they want to communicate with the library trustees and not with the Library Director Jeff Scott.