In west Michigan, library that survived LGBTQ book flap closes as staffers quit

• Patmos Library is closed temporarily after the majority of its staff resigned last week
• The library has been the focal point of a long-running battle over LGBTQ-themed books
• The Ottawa County library is one of several around the state embroiled in culture war fights

JAMESTOWN TOWNSHIP — A few feet away from the children’s section of the Patmos Public Library, adults argued Monday over who are the better Christians.

A version of that debate has been going on in this train depot-themed library near Hudsonville in Ottawa County for three years. Starting with a feud over LGBTQ-themed books, the culture war took a turn last week, when five librarians quit in a dispute with a recently-elected, politically conservative board of directors.

The resignations forced the library to close its doors. It’s unclear when it will be able to hire enough staff to reopen.

In their resignation letter, librarians accused board members of “rude, disrespectful and unprofessional behavior.”

Monday night, about 150 people gathered in the library, where the circulation desk was dark and large swaths of the typically bustling building were blocked off.

One speaker quoted a Bible verse from Corinthians to support the librarians who had just quit, while another referenced a verse in Matthew to support the library board.

Related:

• Donations pour in after Michigan town defunded library over LGBTQ books
• Lapeer library keeps LGBTQ-themed books, but more battles loom

One woman suggested that “Satan is trying hard to destroy this library.”

No doubt, it’s been a devilish three years for the library serving this community of 10,000. In the spring of 2022, residents began raising concerns about a handful of LGBTQ-themed graphic novels in the young adult section of the library.

Among the controversial books is “Gender Queer: A Memoir,” which includes illustrations of sex acts. That book, which had been shelved in the adult section of the library, is now located behind the counter.

Several other books with illustrations of same-sex relationships remain in the library’s young adult section.

Voters defunded the library twice, rejecting millages that provided 84% of  the library’s budget. The library would have closed by the fall of 2023 if not for donations that poured in from around the country, including $50,000 from romance novelist Nora Roberts.

After the library agreed to put labels to the inside covers of all books, giving readers a brief overview of the genre and subject matter, the community voted to approve an operating millage.

Tensions rose again last fall, when a slate of six candidates supported by Ottawa Impact, a political group closely aligned with evangelical Christian organizations and involved in the original book protests, won all the seats on the board of directors. 

One of the recently elected members displayed a large, home-made sign in her front lawn in 2022 that accused Patmos librarians of wanting to “groom our kids.”

Board President Alaina Kwiatkowski read a statement at Monday’s meeting saying the board is disappointed in the resignations and won’t discuss personnel issues.

“While this change has presented some challenges, we are working diligently to ensure a thoughtful and stable transition,” read a statement posted by the board on the library’s website. “As we regroup and rebuild our team, the library will be temporarily closed for a short period of time.”

Deb Mikula, executive director of the Michigan Library Association, said she could not recall another Michigan library closing because of staff walking off the job.

Mikula said tensions have been high at a handful of public libraries around the state in recent years over sexual-themed books on the shelves. 

“Too often we’re faced with (views that are) so far right and so far left,” Mikula said.

About 30 people spoke at the board meeting, roughly split between those calling for board members to resign, and those thanking the board for their work.

As the meeting ended, the former librarians cleaned out their desks and Kwiatkowski announced that the building's locks would be changed the next morning.

Township resident Ryan Bowman left disappointed. “There's so much we agree on, like my kids love a good summer program,” Bowman said. There’s just a few things that are at the fringe that we have differences of opinion. Let's just respect those and get this thing back up and running.”