JAMESTOWN TWP. — The embattled Patmos Library in Jamestown Township has reopened following a controversial, temporary closing after several employees abruptly quit. 

Patmos Head Librarian Debby Helmkamp, who began her role there in April, said the library reopened May 27. The library was closed for a short time — about two weeks — after several staff members left their positions. Some employees cited mistreatment for their decision to resign.

Helmkamp said the library is almost fully staffed again, with around three full-time positions still vacant. 

“We’ve hired a lot of people. We are doing really well,” she said. 

That seems to be in stark contrast to how things were going at the end of April and into early May, when the library staff began quitting. 

Sharai Norcross, who left her position weeks ago, said she has no desire to return to Patmos, alleging one board member frightened her to the point she asked someone else to be present when she quit.

“Once others decided to quit, I knew the disrespect would turn on those who stayed,” Norcross said. “The attitude was ‘if you don’t agree with us and follow our lead, we don’t like you.’ That was made abundantly clear after the shift.” 

Helmkamp said she did not want to comment on allegations by past employees. An email to Patmos Library Board President Alaina Kwiatkowski seeking comment was not returned. 

Staff hit a ‘boiling point’ 

When Norcross put in her notice, she said she was told to leave immediately and not to worry about grabbing some of her personal belongings. Norcross said she had worked there just under two years before she quit, starting as a book shelver and later working at the circulation desk. 

“I was already really emotional. I knew it was coming a year ago. It hit a boiling point, and it boiled over. (The board member) was almost volatile. She scared me,” Norcross said. 

Ottawa News Network is choosing not to name the board member referenced by Norcross for this story. 

Norcross said the issues really date back to 2020, prior to the book banning in 2022. 

The library was twice defunded by voters in 2022 due to controversies around some LGBTQ books and others with sexual content that were accessible in the library’s young adult section.

After shooting down two previous attempts, voters finally approved a three-year property tax to keep Patmos Library open in November 2023.

“Once they solved the book banning issue, everyone couldn’t let it go. So they weren’t going to give us a millage to keep running. When the millage passed, they said we still don’t want these books in a public library,” Norcross said. 

“A public library has to have something for everyone. The books that people wanted were what conservative people didn’t want to read.”

Norcross alleges the board members were very controlling about what was allowed to be housed at Patmos.

“The board members who got elected last year made it clear that they were going to control the collection that came into the library and censor materials that came into the library that they agreed with. And that’s what happened,” she said. 

Starting over

According to the May 12 Patmos Library Board of Trustees meeting minutes, Kwiatkowski “addressed recent staff resignations, expressing disappointment but stating that the board would not comment on personnel issues or former staff members.”  

The library had eight staff members at the time. 

“The board emphasized its commitment to a safe, respectful, and professional work environment for employees and the public, and stated that their focus is on rebuilding the team and reopening the library,” according to the meeting minutes.

“The board remains committed to transparency, public service, and a positive work environment and expressed gratitude for the support and interest in open library positions. They look forward to rebuilding a team dedicated to serving the community and will continue to share updates and reopening plans through their website and official channels.”

Among several people in the crowd was Ottawa County Commissioner Joe Moss, the president of far-right political group Ottawa Impact, which held a board majority in 2023 and 2024 — and endorsed the current Patmos Library board members.

He commented at the meeting as well, according to the minutes, and his words were met with a mix of boo’s and cheers from the audience. 

"Hi there … I just wanted to say thank you for making hard decisions,” he said, addressing the board. 

Support Our Work

Ottawa News Network is a nonprofit news service dedicated to providing the residents of Ottawa County with trustworthy, community-driven news. ONN treats journalism as a public good — something that enriches lives and empowers Ottawa County’s 300,000-plus residents to stay engaged, make informed decisions, and strengthen local democracy. Please consider giving today.

"Thank you for doing what's right. I encourage you to continue standing up for our community and for the public platform that you ran on. And just wanted to say thank you for continuing to protect kids and yeah, to do hard things and to do what's right. So thank you very much."

During the portion of his comment about protecting kids, someone from the audience shouted, “That’s rich.” 

— Heather VanDyke covers northern Ottawa County for the Ottawa News Network. Contact her at newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.