Patmos Library in Ottawa County is poised to reopen this Tuesday, May 27, following a temporary closure prompted by a staffing crisis. The facility had shut its doors on May 9 after most staff resigned due to conflicts with the library board. In a recent announcement on Facebook, the Patmos Library invited the community back, stating, "Come explore new books, use our public spaces, and enjoy all our resources." They expressed gratitude for the public’s support and eagerness to see patrons again.
After the majority of its personnel departed, leaving the library significantly understaffed, a special meeting was convened by the board last Monday to address staffing concerns. The library previously emphasized prioritizing its summer reading program's preparedness, as reported by WOODTV. In the wake of the upheaval, regular operations are set to return, with the library operating from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting the upcoming Tuesday.
The earlier closure followed a high-profile incident three years ago when Patmos Library was defunded over the presence of books containing LGBTQ+ themes on its shelves. The controversy brought national attention and resulted in a $50,000 donation from author Nora Roberts, which assisted in keeping the library afloat. Following this episode, voters approved a millage to restore the funding, as covered by WZZM13.
