Cynthia Womble of Bryson City, Swain County was the only other board member who spoke in favor of the book. She said her 20-year-old son had read it when he was in high school, because it was listed as a reference during health class.

Fontana Regional Library moves teen guide on sex and relationships to adult section after special board meeting

She explained that the board’s Vice Chair Tony Monnat also resigned this week. Bill McGaha of Macon County, who was Secretary of the Board, was elected Chair at this week’s board meeting. Womble will continue to serve on the Marianna Black Library Board in Swain County.

Swain Co. Library expanding after 15 years of planning, bright spot for Fontana Regional Library System

Cynthia Womble is from Bryson City. She has a son and serves on the Marianna Black Library Board in Swain County.

Swain Co. Library expanding after 15 years of planning, bright spot ...

But perhaps a larger reason for leaving the role was Womble’s convictions. “The chair, in accordance with Robert's rules, is supposed to be neutral. And I can't be neutral about censorship,” Womble, a Navy veteran, said.

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As of September 2, 2026, Cynthia Womble did not have a website or any information online.

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“The people who were appointed, they're all taking their responsibility seriously for their communities. They're definitely staying true to their personal beliefs, and in doing so, it does mean that we have differences of opinion on the board,” Womble said. “One thing I'm passionate about is the First Amendment. And the freedom to read, and that our libraries are for everyone in the community, and that we should serve the needs as best we can of our entire community.”

Womble added that there are people who want certain books or resources removed from the library or made harder to access. “And I don't believe in that. I believe we should have everything available,” she said.

“The folks who come and speak at the FRL meetings are very adamant that they’re not in favor of banning books. They just want them removed from the library. As a library board member, I don’t know what the difference is between telling me that book shouldn’t be in the library and banning a book,” Womble said of the second line of reasoning, adding that Jackson commissioners want to have full control over the county’s libraries without compromise.

Amid uncertainty, Swain commissioners accept revised FRL amendments

Cynthia Womble of Bryson City, Swain County was the only other board member who spoke in favor of the book. She said her 20-year-old son had read it when he was in high school, because it was listed as a reference during health class. "I don’t really want them [kids] searching terms and things on the internet and it being targeted at adults, so I would rather them read a book targeted at teens. I also would rather have my son come to me or my husband to talk about these things but I’m savvy enough to know that most kids don’t because it’s embarrassing and the last people you want to talk about that with is usually your parents," Womble said. "If we think that kids are not having sex at the age of 13 then we are deluding ourselves," she continued. The vote was 5-2 to move the book to the adult section.

Advocates for keeping library materials available to all community members and opposes removing books or making them harder to access.

Supports keeping a book about sex and relationships for teenagers available to them.

- Advocates for keeping library materials available to all community members and opposes removing books or making them harder to access.
- Supports keeping a book about sex and relationships for teenagers available to them.

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As of September 2, 2026, Cynthia Womble’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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