LEE COUNTY, Fla. — The Lee County Commission voted to end a relationship with the national nonprofit, the American Library Association.

Retired librarian Marge Cox tells us this is disturbing to hear. She thinks the county made a mistake.

They voted unanimously to end the relationship between Lee County and America’s oldest and largest library nonprofit on Tuesday.

“I wish they all would’ve had more information before they voted,” Cox said.

The American Library Association said they help fund libraries across the state. And the loss of this relationship will hurt. The organization released the following statement:

ALA, a nonprofit, non-partisan organization, connects libraries across the country to grants to fund services that help communities grow and thrive. Those who lose here are the libraries and, most importantly, their communities. ALA remains committed to providing essential support, resources, and opportunities for every library and library worker in every state and territory across the nation to help them better serve their communities. 

~ Raymond A. Garcia, Communications Specialist, American Library Association

“I hear people that want books banned, and when they want something done like this with ALA,” she said. “No, this is not the parental rights that you were looking for.”

In her experience working with ALA, she said they support parents to decide on what their own children can read. Each parent might have different ideas.

But Lee County commissioners said they have heard from many concerned parents complaining specifically about the organization.

“Earlier this week, the State of Florida dropped its membership with ALA,” District 4 Commissioner Brian Hamman said. “Multiple counties have also dropped their membership.”

Commissioners said they will not pay $2,000 annually to benefit an organization with ideologies they do not support.

“This is not about restricting books or restricting people’s access to the bookmobile or the libraries,” District 2 Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass said. “This is about paying organizations out of state so they could find their own beliefs.”

Lee County officials said this vote will not affect how libraries operate.

But retired librarians said this decision has a broad impact from those who work inside to your children.

“Public libraries are one of the last places you don’t have to walk in with a lot of money to read,” she said.

Cox said many librarians and educators are worried about what happens next.

“In my opinion, the worst thing that could happen is that it continues to spread and a few people monitor with everybody reads,” Cox said.

The county said they will revisit this decision once ALA becomes politically neutral.