In a meeting that expected fireworks over surplus funding, a book policy, and Macon County’s move to exit the regional organization, it turned out to be a quick session with key controversial issues tabled until the organization’s next meeting.
Much of the thunder was stolen thanks to a court injunction prohibiting the Fontana Regional Library system from distributing surplus funds to its members that could have meant more than $1 million to Macon County.
Issues that did draw the ire of those who oppose the FRL’s trajectory included the interim 2026/2027 budget and the naming of the Macon County representative and chair, Bill McGaha, as interim director.
Before the meeting was fully underway, agenda items concerning the Collection Development Policy (CDP) and the Net Surplus Refunds were removed.
The CDP guides how the library system selects, purchases, maintains, and removes materials. The reasoning for the CDP removal boiled down to the Jackson County representatives believing it was an issue for the new board, which would not include them. And the refunds simply were untouchable due to the court’s injunction.
However, before the votes could be taken on the CDP, there were several comments from the audience arguing the proposed changes would restrict access and serve as a violation of parental rights regarding treatment of controversial books.
Jackson trustee Deborah Smith countered their arguments in a detailed statement (available in full here).
“No book has been removed from any FRL library unless it was weeded by a librarian,” she said, “This Board voted to relocate one book which was moved to a different section of the same library.”
She further countered complaints that the FRL was banning books.
“Their definition of a banned book includes moving a book to another shelf or area of the library,” she said. “Merrian-Webster defines banned book as ‘a book that has been entirely removed from a public, school, or academic library, or one that is prohibited from being published, sold, or distributed.’”
Interim director
When the item to name an interim director came up, Smith explained that the system was having difficulty attracting qualified candidates for the director position. With up to two-thirds of the FRL membership potentially exiting within a year, no one wants the job until the situation stabilizes.
She said Bill McGaha already has already performed the job as interim director since April 2026. He would serve as interim until a full-time replacement could be found.
He argued that decisions needed to be made by an officially recognized interim director or the libraries would suffer.
During the public session, Beth Baxley from Jackson County argued that he was unqualified for the position, stating, “I would like to say proactively that the qualifications for director, as required by the NC State statutes on libraries, which read: to be eligible for service as chief administrative officer of a library system…a person must have a professional librarian certificate.”
Smith countered that Baxley was correct if FRL was hiring a full-time director, but that wasn’t the case here.
“According to NC State Library, the naming of an interim director is not required but the state requires a ‘contact person’,” said Smith. “Having a library degree is not a requirement, and there is no set time limit for hiring a director. They do hope it will not take more than a year, but they understand there are unusual circumstances, and they ask that they be kept updated.”
Cynthia Womble, a Swain County trustee, said the board members looked at every possible option for hiring a new director but that it’s nearly impossible to find candidates given the FRL’s current instability.
“The best option is to have Mr. McGaha named as interim director,” she said. “We definitely do need someone in that position, not just because the state says they need a contact, but there are duties and responsibilities that are fiscal and financial” and must be carried out. She was confident the remaining two library directors in Swain and Macon will give McGaha good advice.
McGaha responded to a board question that memorandums of agreement and the state aid application was due, and the organization’s attorney said to carry out those duties the system needed “to have it where the board has appointed you to give you that authority.”
He added that he was looking for someone with a professional librarian certificate to work on a contract basis.
Womble added that in addition to signing checks, an actual staff member is required to advocate for the employees.
The motion passed 7-1.
Bylaws
McGaha move that updated bylaws be approved before July 1, 2026. He said the items would strengthen the conflict of interest on ethics language and immunity and indemnity.
“I was surprised at how inadequate our attorney thought the current bylaws were,” he said.
The amendments passed 6-2.
Interim Budget
While there were some complaints by trustees and the audience alike about the draft budget being distributed without giving trustees much time to review it properly, McGaha argued that changes were made as quickly as possible considering Macon County’s very recent vote to exit.
The need for a some budget was necessary to move forward, though he said an interim budget tied the board’s hands in terms raising employee salaries and capital expenditures.
The interim budget was approved 6-2.