Library and county meet to discuss lease

On May 20, representatives from the Josephine Community Library District met with Commissioner Chris Barnett and the district’s legal counsel to discuss the future of the Grants Pass library building lease. During the meeting, the library district reiterated its request to maintain the current $1-per-year lease agreement for another five years, with an option to renew. The meeting marks a step toward reopening a dialogue after months of uncertainty.
“I’m hopeful that today’s discussion will lead to a fair and lasting resolution,” said Library Director Kate Lasky. “It’s encouraging to finally meet with a commissioner, but I’m concerned the timeline to renew the lease by December 31 is in jeopardy. I hope we can move forward in good faith.”
On Jan. 6, the Josephine County Board of Commissioners voted to terminate the library’s lease with only 30 days’ notice. Since that vote, the County has not offered a substantive response or proposed new lease terms, citing internal departmental needs and the potential sale of unrelated county property as reasons for the delay.
The conversation also highlighted the long history of redirected library funding. In 1997, the County merged its 33-cent voter-approved library levy into its general fund, creating a permanent tax rate of 58.67 cents per $1,000 in assessed value. While 56 % of that rate originated from the library levy, none of those funds currently support library services. The district now operates independently, funded by a separate voter-approved special district.
The Grants Pass library, located at 200 NW C Street, has served the community since 1959 and remains essential while the district raises funds for a future facility. Since 2009, the library has invested more than $500,000 in capital improvements to maintain and improve the building after the County closed the library system in 2007 due to lack of funding.
The district remains open to continued negotiations and urges the County to formalize its position in writing so that a collaborative path forward can be established. Consistent to its mission, the library is committed to keeping the public informed through transparent communication as this process moves forward.