A Florida County Commission Refuses to Provide Library Access to NY Times, Calling it “Fake News”

From The Citrus County Chronicle:

President Donald Trump and Commissioner Scott Carnahan both have at least one thing in common: They hate the New York Times

And partially because of that, the county commission nixed a plan to have the Times available free digitally to 70,000 Citrus County library card holders.

“I don’t want the New York Times in this county,” Carnahan said during Thursday’s board meeting. “I don’t like them. It’s fake news.”

Library Director Eric Head had requested board approval to subscribe to the Times digital service. The three-year agreement had an annual cost of $2,657 each of the first two years, and $2,714 the third year.

Learn More, Read the Complete Article (approx. 550 words)

See Also: Board’s NY Times’ Decision Catches Public’s Ire (via The Citrus County Chronicle)

UPDATE (November 6, 2019)

Citrus County to Discuss NY Times Subscription After Opposing It (via AP)

County’s Decision on New York Times Digital Subscription Has Nation in an Uproar (via Citrus County Chronicle)

UPDATE (November 5, 2019) ALA Issues Statement Re: County Commission Decision to Deny Digital Access to New York Times in Citrus County Public Libraries

UPDATE (November 4, 2019) Commissioners Call New York Times ‘Fake News,’ Deny Library Funding For Digital Subscriptions (via Tampa Bay Times)

UPDATE (November 3, 2019): Newspaper Editorial: Commissioners Need A Lesson in Library Ethics (via Citrus County Chronicle)

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