Incidents at Talent library in December involving man eventually banned for looking at images of nude children spurred more than a month of discussion, debate and public meetings by library district board

By Buffy Pollock, Rogue Valley Times

The Jackson County Library District board voted unanimously after an executive session Wednesday to “enter into a termination without cause agreement” with Library Director Kari May.  

The decision comes after nearly two months of upheaval for the district that began with a trio of incidents in December during which 33-year-old Nicholas Johnson, who later identified himself as a registered sex offender in Talent police body cam footage, was witnessed watching videos of naked children on a library computer inside the Talent branch library. The incidents were first reported by the Rogue Valley Times Dec. 20.  

Johnson, who was contacted by Talent police Dec. 15 regarding watching the videos, initially had his library privileges suspended for one week. Following public outcry over the reported incidents, however, library officials expressed regret over the district’s handling of the matter, and the suspension was elevated to six months, with Johnson’s library computer privileges permanently terminated at all branch libraries.  

The event spurred weeks of discussion and additional issues raised by district staff, who were divided, with some vowing support for May and others voicing concerns about district culture.  

May was placed on administrative leave during a Jan. 5 library board meeting.  

Jackson County District Attorney Patrick Green announced Jan. 15 that the incident, which he described as “disturbing,” did not meet the legal definition of material to be considered child sexual abuse material, known as CSMA, and that Johnson would face no criminal charges.  

Board members voted Jan. 21 to seek May’s resignation, in addition to voting to conduct a human resources investigation. May’s leave was most recently extended for an additional six days during a Jan. 29 meeting, allowing additional time for board members to consider the matter.  

May was hired by the district in August 2018 with a reported salary, according to a 2019 contract obtained by the Times, of $125,000. According to the 2019 contract, termination without cause would result in a severance payment equal to between three and nine month’s salary upon termination, depending on tenure. According to June 18 board meeting minutes, May’s most recent salary amount was $189,978.

May did not speak at the Wednesday meeting but provided a written statement following the meeting. In the statement, she pointed to a list of accomplishments during her tenure and noted that it had been “an honor and a privilege to serve as Library Director for Jackson County Library Services for the past seven and a half years,” during which the district had experienced “many challenges and successes.”

May’s full statement reads as follows:  

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as Library Director for Jackson County Library Services for the past seven and a half years. During that time, we experienced many challenges and successes. In 2020, staff successfully migrated from private employment to being directly hired by and working for the Library District. This was done against the backdrop of a global pandemic that disrupted library services — and daily life — for almost a year. In the midst, the Jackson County community experienced the devastating Almeda and South Obenchain wildfires, which destroyed more than 2,500 homes and hundreds of local businesses. The Library quickly stepped in during this difficult time, offering needed resources to all residents. Patrons appreciated the ability to print critical documents that they lost in the fire, complete insurance claims on the public computers, and connect with others in the community impacted by these tragic events.

“Local communities are deeply committed to their libraries, something that was clear to me from the moment I arrived in Jackson County. Each Friends of the Library group speaks with pride about the things that make their library special. And the most frequent request / heard was for expanded library service hours. In 2023, that goal was finally met. Across the 15 branches, hours of operation have expanded 37%, including late-evening hours on Thursdays and Saturday hours at every branch.  

“Other significant accomplishments under my leadership include the expansion of the Outreach Department, including the expansion of the Technology Education team and addition of the mobile technology van, as well as a new Spanish Services Coordinator. The new Community Engagement Team helps connect patrons to local community resources such as mental health and food or housing insecurity. Jackson County started participating in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library three years ago, and to date, over 5000 kids age 0-5 have received free books in the mail every month. Rogue Reads, a community-wide reading program, is celebrating its 6th year this month.  

“Staff members are clearly committed to and passionate about their libraries and their work. I am proud of what they have accomplished and of the services they continue to provide every day. The leadership team has worked together with me to create and update policies that keep the organization running smoothly. Each month, they share with the Library Board some of the highlights of the previous 30 days. That report typically runs 8-10 pages and cannot even begin to capture all of the amazing things this system does for the community.  

“I became a librarian because l am passionate about the role public libraries play in their community: an open and welcoming place for everyone, where people connect to the information and resources they need to improve their quality of life.  

“To JCLS staff, I offer a heart-felt thank you. It has truly been my honor to lead you. Keep up the excellent work, and you will fulfill the Library’s mission well into the future,” the statement concluded.

This is a developing story and will be updated as warranted.   

Reach reporter Buffy Pollock at 458-488-2029 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @orwritergal. This story first appeared in the Rogue Valley Times.

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Community reacts to D.A. decision on Talent library incident (Jan. 21, 2026)

Jackson County D.A. finds no evidence of illegal conduct at Talent library (Jan. 16, 2026)

Library district outlines plans in response to Talent branch incident (Dec. 24, 2025)