Library supporters are calling the five members of the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) “hypocrites” for an April 2026 proclamation stating collective support for libraries in public while preparing behind the scenes to cut financial support, hours at some of the county’s libraries and planning to close the Bryceville branch.
The Facebook page, “Save Our Nassau CountyPublic Libraries,” which was established by library supporters has the following post, “Hypocrisy occured with the issuance of a beautifully worded proclamation from the Commissioners for National Library Week in April and then the wreckage of the library system that followed.”
Another post states, “Nassau County is making library changes with no regard to the desire of its residents.”
The outcry comes against the pending outcome of the 2026-27 fiscal year budget in which a 40 percent cut in operating hours since July 1, 2026, to the Yulee branch on the campus of FSCJ remains in place as well a implementing other cuts to other branches. For months, library supporters have testified against the cuts to the county’s library system, but the county commissioners have remained commited to the proposed budget. On Mon., Sept. 14, 2026, the five members voted in support of the propose budget in the first of two mandated budget adoption meetings. The five memberes will take further testimony this coming Mon., Sept. 28, 2026, regarding the county’s total budget including line items for the library and then vote for a second time toward final adoption by Oct. 1, 2026.
Gary Morgan, a member of the Friends of the Yulee Library, who has testified at prior meetings, said he will “absoleutly” be at Monday night’s meeting to testify and he encourages others to sign up to speak as well during public testimony during which each resident can speak unfettered for three minutes. Morgan encourages library supporters to wear red clothing in support of RED or Read Every Day and he noted there is no age limit requirement to testify.
“I am blasting this information everywhere,” Morgan told BuzzTown Media. “If you care about the future of libraries in Nassau County, you should be there Monday night.”
Alyson McCullough, BOCC chair representing District 4 in which the soon-to-be closed Bryceville branch is, told BuzzTown Media that she cares deeply about libraries and uses the various Nassau County branches often.
She’s bringing a print out of her “check-out” list with 154 titles to Monday night’s meeting as evidence that she too uses the libraries frequently.
She contends that the BOCC is working to save libraries amidst a budget-conscious culture that is demanding a more efficient use of taxpayer dollars.
“I am, and the rest of the board is, committed to the most efficent and effective use of taxpayer dollars to provide services to the residents of Nassau County,” she said. “We are not cutting library service. We are consolidating services, but the same services will be available at the remaining locations.”
By same services, we asked McCullough if she meant the following: Books to check out, programs to attend, Internet services. She said yes.
She points to a rather complicated library service model established by the state in 2024 that uses population and a slew of other statistics to guide how many libraries each Florida county should have.
Based the model, Nassau County was providing more library-oriented service than recommended.
We will list a URL at the end of this article for readers to review. Fair warning: It lists 35 tables addressing specific library-oriented use elements before presenting two topics – education and funding – via its library development section and five more topics under branchits data section.
Current plans are for the Bryceville library to close in late October 2026. Current plans to conintue some level of service include installing a locker at which library patrons can pick up requested books and other library items. Library outreach events such as Storytime would continue to be presented at the Bryceville Community Center. The Fernandina Beach branch is slated to close on Saturdays beginning Oct. 1, 2026.
Monday night’s BOCC meeting addresing the upcoming budget begins at 5 p.m. and is held in the BOCC chambers located at the James S. Page Governmental Complex at 96135 Nassau Place in Yulee.
Unable to attend in person? Watch the meeting live via the Nassau County Clerk webpage: www.nassauclerk.com.
The state library guidance documents can be found online at:https://dos.fl.gov/library-archives/library-development/data/?utm_source=chatgpt.com or by entering the following into your web browser: Florida Department of State Division of Library Information Services Library Development Data 2024.
Reach Amy Armstrong vis email: amy@buzztownmedia.com.
