To the editor:

Thank you to those who took the time to vote yes for the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County’s 1-mill, five-year operating renewal levy once again. Your vote of support for the library to continue free services, reliable resources and engaging programs to all of Jefferson County residents is appreciated.

The Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County is a county-wide library system with branches in Adena, Brilliant, Dillonvale, two in Steubenville, Tiltonsville, Toronto and bookmobile service. We look forward to the opening of the Bergholz branch next year.

Our mission is simple. A public library serves all people of all ages and all viewpoints. We provide an impartial environment with information and materials so that you can choose the items you want to read and borrow from the shelves. It is the library’s commitment to provide equal access to information, intellectual freedom and to uphold First Amendment rights.

We acknowledge and respect that not everyone agrees with the collection that the library provides, such as books relating to LGBTQ+, both in favor and opposition. It is a patron’s right to decide what their family will read.

Because a library cannot move an entire collection of books to another section, we offer a reconsideration form for an individual book that you have read and may want to challenge. The form is available at your library branch.

This past voting season, we received phone calls asking us to clarify the facts about the levy and our LGBTQ+ collection. We appreciate those who took the time to talk and listen to make an informed decision. And again, we thank those of you who supported us with your vote of yes so that we may continue making the library a welcoming place for all.

Jenn Cesta

Public relations coordinator

Public Library of Steubenville

and Jefferson County