The backlash against the formation of the library was almost immediate. When the first bill from the Botetourt-Rockbridge Regional Library was presented to the Board of Supervisors they balked at paying it. They argued that they had not agreed to commit any tax money to the library. James Bowen once again explained the 65% county support requirement and reminded the supervisors that they had signed a contract stating otherwise. After a heated back and forth they both acknowledged that there had been a “misunderstanding.”
Meanwhile the Highland Library Association and the Botetourt-Rockbridge Regional Library continued building library service for Highland residents. A location for the library was secured in the Masonic building in Monterey and work began on renovating the space.
The regional library sent books and supplies, and state aid funds provided more books and necessary equipment. The Bookmobile continued making stops throughout Highland County.
By the next budget season in 1976, the opponents of the library had rallied. A new group had formed in the county, the Highland Taxpayer Association. In a June budget meeting of the Board of Supervisors they made their case. They presented a petition with 158 signatures of people who were against higher tax levies and stated that 150 of those signatures were from people who were against using county funds for a library. A member stated that “taxpayers do not want the county library.” (Recorder, June 24, 1976)
As a lifelong library patron and book lover, I ask myself how can someone be anti-library? The first reason cited by the Highland Taxpayer Association is rather obvious, county libraries are primarily funded by county taxes. They did not want to pay more taxes.
A second reason for the movement against the library was revealed in an April 5, 1979 Recorder article about the reorganization of the Highland Taxpayer Association, “Several in the group voiced opposition to continued funding for the Highland County Library, calling all public libraries a ‘part of the socialists’ conspiracy to spread their propaganda."
A member stated, “people who want to read ‘should be encouraged to join book clubs,’ rather than putting public funds into library services.”
In their next issue (April 12, 1979), The Recorder published three letters from champions of the library who took issue with the socialist propaganda remark and valiantly advocated for the good work that libraries do in their communities. I am pleased to say that two authors of those letters, Debbi Stephenson and Michael Bedwell, still support our library today.
