Washoe County Libraries: From Safe Havens to Staging Grounds for Fear
Signage posted at the Washoe County Libraries December 6, 2024.
These signs are posted throughout Washoe County libraries, thus it must have the approval of Library Director Jeff Scott. Has Scott gotten permission from the Washoe County Library Trustees to post this signage?
These signs instill confusion and stress for Washoe County residents of less library hours, less days open, less library employees, etc. Commissioner Mike Clark who sent us this photo he received from a Washoe County resident said, “I need to see Mr. Scott’s budget, and he isn’t showing me one. Ask yourself why.”
Remember when libraries were sanctuaries of learning and hope? Places where children discovered magical worlds and seniors found quiet comfort? Today, in Washoe County, something has changed.
While Herb Kaplan from the District Attorney's office keeps a less-than-watchful eye over Library Director Jeff Scott's decisions, our community's cherished spaces are being transformed into billboards of anxiety. The question echoing through our reading rooms: Why?
Parents now walk past fear-inducing signs with their little ones, trying to explain why their beloved library feels more like a battleground than a bookhouse. Seniors who've treasured these spaces for decades watch in dismay as their peaceful refuge turns political.
Where is the leadership? Commission Chair Alexis Hill stays silent. County Manager Eric Brown looks the other way. Assistant County Manager David Solaro was part of the county “team” who hired Mr. Scott. And our District Attorney's office, through Mr. Kaplan, appears more interested in protecting administrators than preserving the heart and soul of our libraries.
These aren't just buildings with books – they're the cornerstones of our community, where dreams take flight and minds expand. Or at least, they used to be.
When did we decide that fearmongering deserved shelf space alongside Shakespeare? When did we trade story time for scare tactics?
Our children, our seniors, our community – they all deserve better than this. They deserve their libraries back.