Grants Pass, April 4, 2025— Less than three months after Commissioner Chris Barnett publicly stated, “I have no intention of evicting the library,” Josephine County is now making plans for evicting the library from the building it has occupied since 1959. The unexpected shift—shared today through county legal counsel without clear reasoning or a timeline—comes after county officials canceled a scheduled meeting with library leadership and have yet to reschedule or respond directly to the district’s lease renewal proposal.
In response to the district’s formal lease proposal submitted on March 25, 2025, County Legal Counsel Wally Hicks stated, “At this time the county is unable to provide an answer to the library’s proposal for reasons that include not knowing whether departments will need to be relocated. The Dimmick campus property is currently being offered for sale, and I am not at liberty to provide details about that.”
While the county has other properties that could be used to meet its space needs, officials have not publicly explained why eviction of the library is being considered instead. The library foundation has already purchased property for a future main branch building in Grants Pass but must raise $26 million to fund construction. Remaining in the current facility for at least five more years is essential to maintain services during this transition and to successfully complete the fundraising and building effort.
Hicks further stated that getting this resolved ahead of the budget process “has ceased to be a possibility,” and that the county is “not ruling out a hypothetical scenario involving the county providing storage for library property if a move becomes necessary.”
The Board of Commissioners voted 3–0 on January 6 to terminate the current lease with just 30 days’ notice. In a January 8 County press release, officials said the move was intended to establish a framework for a new lease—not to evict the library. However, no progress has been made. The canceled meeting has not been rescheduled, and the county has not communicated its intentions, leaving the future of public library services in Grants Pass uncertain.
The library district continues to offer multiple dates to meet yet has received no response or direction from county leadership. “We’ve approached the county in good faith and made it clear that we want to remain in the main branch under a renewed lease,” said Kate Lasky, library director. “Our proposal requests a five-year renewal at the current $1 per year rate, with an optional five-year extension. That rate reflects the significant public investment and community benefit, including over $500,000 in building improvements since 2009.”
The current uncertainty follows months of mixed signals from the county about whether it planned to terminate, renegotiate, or renew the lease. The district’s response highlights the vital role of the library in the community and the importance of honoring the County Charter, which requires the Board of Commissioners to “provide for the support and maintenance of the main library.”
“The community voted to form the library district in 2017 to ensure stable, local funding for library services after the county defunded them in 2007,” said Rachele Selvig, library board vice president. “Now, the possibility of being asked to leave our building—without clear reasoning or communication—leaves us asking: was eviction the plan all along?”
The library district remains open to collaboration and urges the county to engage in a transparent public conversation about the future of the Grants Pass main library location.
Community members are encouraged to continue making their voices heard by contacting the County Commissioners through the online Citizen Request Center at josephinecounty.gov or emailing bcc@josephinecounty.gov.
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In Josephine County, Oregon, residents receive public library services through Josephine Community Library District, formed in May 2017 as a special library district with branches in Grants Pass, Illinois Valley, Williams, and Wolf Creek. From public information and early childhood literacy to access to the Internet and critical support for families, seniors, entrepreneurs, and job seekers, Josephine Community Library is committed to connecting diverse community members to reliable resources and technology. For more information about library services or to volunteer, visit josephinelibrary.org, email info@josephinelibrary.org, or call 541-476-0571.