The idea comes as county leaders look ahead to next year for what could be a $40 million to $240 million<\/a> shortfall under the Trump Administration\u2019s \u201cBig Beautiful Bill<\/a>.\u201d What kind of savings privatization could bring has yet to be seen.<\/p>\n The board heard the concerns of library employees at a meeting on Tuesday, including Rebecca Deniston, who works in the library. She said the stacks have been an important resource as she homeschools children in Auberry.<\/p>\n \u201cPrivatizing libraries statistically hurts rural branches the most,\u201d she said at the meeting. \u201cMy family succeeded because of libraries, and it saddens me to think of the families who would not have these opportunities if privatization occurs.\u201d<\/p>\n Critics said they were concerned privatization would particularly hit rural locations, where the private company could crimp hours, reduce materials, cancel programs and even potentially close branches.<\/p>\n Nerland has begun preparing a presentation for the supervisors on a potential privatization, according to Sonja Dosti, the county\u2019s spokesperson. She said it is expected to go to the board in October or November.<\/p>\n Supervisor Garry Bredefeld floated the idea of privatization publicly in May as supporters and critics sparred at a board meeting over whether library employees could attend a Pride Month parade in their official capacity.<\/p>\n Another library employee, J. Butterfield, said she was worried a private library would not offer the options the public one does now. She listed off children\u2019s reading programs, traveling exhibitions, cultural offerings and a program for juvenile offenders, to name a few.<\/p>\n One person who called into the meeting and did not provide a name said the library locations offer more than just books and DVDs.<\/p>\n \u201cThey offer a third space where anyone is welcome, regardless of their socio-economic status, race or political beliefs,\u201d the caller said. \u201cThis can all disappear if a privatized library system were to be adopted.\u201d<\/p>\n The Friends of the Fresno County Public Library have also in recent weeks been sharing their concerns with \u201ctalking points\u201d<\/a> about a potential privatization. That includes an argument that a private library would not be subject to public records requests, so a private company would not be required to report how they are spending library dollars in the same way a public library\u2019s books are open.<\/p>\n The American Library Association is also opposed to private libraries across the country. There are library systems around the state and country that are privatized.<\/p>\n Library Systems and Services Inc., which is headquartered in Maryland, runs a number of private library systems in California to varying degrees of success. The company touts Riverside, Moreno Valley and other municipalities under its \u201csuccess stories<\/a>\u201d label on its website.<\/p>\n Other counties, like Santa Clarita, changed course when that privatization wasn\u2019t providing the results the community was after.<\/p>\n Fresno County Library employees and other classified staffers in the county fall under the SEIU Local 521 union. President Riley Talford also addressed the board this week, saying the public library needs to remain public for the greater community and should not become a flashpoint for identity politics.<\/p>\n \u201cThe public library is not an ideology. It is not woke. It is not radical,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is just the public library. The public encompasses all of the community \u2014 community that you either agree with or you disagree with.\u201d<\/p>\n The sculpture by artist Clement Renzi outside the Fresno County Central Library on Mariposa Street in downtown Fresno on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. Thaddeus Miller tmiller@fresnobee.com
Library-goers read near the stacks at the Fresno County Central Library on Mariposa Street in downtown Fresno on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. Thaddeus Miller tmiller@fresnobee.com
A sign points the way outside the Fresno County Central Library on Mariposa Street in downtown Fresno on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. Thaddeus Miller tmiller@fresonbee.com
The Fresno County Library location in downtown had a Pride Month display up on June 10, 2025. THADDEUS MILLER tmiller@fresnobee.com
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