Warren County: Say No to Anonymous Unvetted Reviews

REMINDER! The first Warren County Library Commission meeting of the fall is TODAY, Tuesday, September 22, at 5:30 pm at the Gardner Branch (2 Shotwell Drive) in Belvidere. The commissioners have stated that they intend to review and revise all the library policies. We have just three meetings until the end of the year. Show up, use your voice, and let the Commission know you value a library that serves everyone in the community freely and fairly. SPREAD THE WORD!

The agenda for the meeting is at:
https://warrenlib.org/warrenlib/PDF/Agenda20260922RegMtg.pdf

You can watch a livestream of the meeting at:
https://www.warrenlib.org/content/library-commission-meeting-stream

WHAT ARE THEY HIDING?
The Warren County Library Commission plan to vote on new bylaws at the January 27th meeting. What's in them? We don't know because they Commission has REFUSED to share them with the public before the vote, despite repeated requests. Why? What are they hiding?

We need to pack the room. We need to speak up. We need to let them know that the Commission is accountable to the public!

The meeting is Tuesday, January 27 at 5:30 pm at the Gardner Branch (2 Shotwell Drive, Belvidere, NJ). If you wish to watch the meeting virtually, please register the link below. NOTE: You will NOT be able to comment if you attend virtually.
https://us06web.zoom.us/.../register/jwjDh4zNQbOMGR7pHGrNBw

Here's the agenda:
https://warrenlib.org/warrenlib/PDF/Agenda20260127RegMtg.pdf

WCL Commission Reorganization Meeting
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
Gardner Branch, Belvidere, NJ

It is extremely important that we PACK THE ROOM and SPREAD THE WORD. They will be setting the schedule for the year and appointing legal counsel once again. Agenda at: https://warrenlib.org/warrenlib/PDF/Agenda20260106ReorgMtg.pdf

The meeting will be held at the Richard D. Gardner Branch, White Township. If you wish to watch the meeting virtually, please register using the link below.
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/PbqNZ2mETfe41B04iOpoQQ

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about watching the meeting.

The Friends of the Warren County Library has partnered with Roy's Hall in Blairstown to host a screening of the important and timely documentary "The Librarians" on January 10th at 6:30 pm. This is a fundraiser for the Friends of the Warren County Library who works to fundraise and advocate for our library system. Please do everything you can to attend and to encourage others to attend as well!

Get tickets at: https://blairstownliveartsinc.thundertix.com/events/256747

About the film:
Librarians emerge as first responders in the fight for democracy and our First Amendment Rights. As they well know, controlling the flow of ideas means control over communities. Despite facing harassment, threats, and laws aimed at criminalizing their work – the librarians’ rallying cry for freedom to read is a chilling cautionary tale.

SPREAD THE WORD!

We have a public Facebook page and Instagram page to help get the word out this fall. Be sure to like, follow, and share!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wcnjfreedomtoread
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wcnjfreedomtoread/

At the June library commission meeting, Meryl Barny-McGinley, Administrative Secretary for the Warren County Library bravely shared this statement. She has attended library commission meetings on behalf of the library since 2017, and has now retired. Unfortunately, the library commission would not let her share the entire statement, citing the 4 minute limit to public statements. So I want to present it here in its entirety.

A transcript is available here, if you wish to read or share it.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/dfz0mieaqpgdljwl83lj5/Meryl-s-letter-WCL-commission-meeting-6_24_25.docx?rlkey=sznd6xmidh7apxkctu4y5webe&st=fp28guvz&dl=0

From the Ridge View Echo

Library Commission Meeting Draws Criticism Over Governance, Book Access

The Warren County Library Commission meeting had a limited agenda since bylaw revisions are still in the works, but once again public comment dominated the Tuesday, June 24 meeting amid ongoing concerns over governance and transparency.

Read the article at https://ridgeviewecho.com/2025/06/30/library-commission-meeting-draws-criticism-over-governance-book-access/

Let's keep the momentum going! We're meeting this summer to plan for fall. Together we'll discuss the ongoing concerns with the library commission, develop goals and strategies to address problems such as corruption and censorship, and brainstorm ways to get the message out.

Dates:
Sunday, July 13, 12 pm at Belvidere Books
Tuesday, July 22, 6 pm at Man Skirt Brewing
Sunday, August 10, 12 pm at Belvidere Books
Tuesday, August 19, 6 pm at Man Skirt Brewing

Are you interested in virtual meetings? Please let us know with this form!
https://forms.gle/Abptorkv9dBTx7zu6

The next Warren County Library Commission Meeting is on June 24 at 5:30 pm at the Richard D. Gardner Branch, 2 Shotwell Drive, Belvidere, NJ 07823 (just off Rt. 519).

If you wish to attend the meeting virtually, please register using the link below. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/qn42CUleRXi2XrZYypP7qQ

The agenda can be found on the Library Commission's webpage at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting: https://warrenlib.org/content/warren-county-library-commission

Join Warren County Freedom to Read:
Website: https://www.fightforthefirst.org/groups/warren-county-nj-freedom-to-read
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/warrencountyrejectsbookbans

May Warren County Library Commission Meeting

The meeting will be held at the Richard D. Gardner Branch, White Township. If you wish to attend the meeting virtually, please register using the link below.

Register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/DOjiITaZQuyoS-OQfDGOmQ

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

The agenda can be found on the Library Commission's webpage: https://warrenlib.org/content/warren-county-library-commission

I'm asking everyone, yes everyone, to send an email to [email protected] to share your thoughts this month. Send your letter no later than April 21 at 4:30 pm. If you have questions specifically request a response. Prepare to attend on April 22 either in person or online. We need to make it clear with our numbers that we support the freedom to read and our libraries! Make then hear us so they can't continue to ignore us.

REMINDER! Warren County Library Commission meeting tonight (3/25) at 5:30 pm at the Gardner Branch (2 Shotwell Drive, White Township). Positive pressure is working! Keep showing up, speaking up, and shining a light on the library commission's actions. Let them know we want a public library that respects the First Amendment and serves EVERYONE in our community!
DETAILS HERE -> https://warrenlib.libnet.info/event/12703554

BookLooks is shutting down their website, but this doesn't mean they're going away. There is a good chance they are consolidating their efforts with other similar sites. Even if BookLooks goes offline, the fight continues as we demand the Library Commission recommends only professional, vetted, reliable websites are resources to our community.

Learn more at https://bookriot.com/booklooks-shutting-down/

The BookLooks site will be ceasing operation on March 23, While this is good news, the fact that the website has failed after barely two years in operation supports our argument that this resource should never have been recommended to the public in the first place. In addition, there is well-founded concern that the Library Commission will swiftly suggest other sites, such as Screen It First, as a replacement. They have suggested such sites in the past, and it seems clear they are seeking to elevate politically-biased, unprofessional, anonymous websites as part of their overall agenda. Our issues with these sites remains the same as our objection to BookLooks. The library and Library Commission should be recommending only reputable, authoritative, quality, professional review sources. We support the use of high-quality, time-tested resources such as Kirkus and BookList for our community.