Controversies surrounding book banning continue across U.S. public libraries. Local public meetings, including library board meetings, are where most of the fights over books happen. Many public library systems are failing to resolve book controversies, even after a series of long meetings involving diverse community members. This is not surprising because the traditional form of public engagement, such as a public meeting, is not suitable for representing the community's diverse perspectives1. It limits the community's capacity to build consensus among community members and make the best possible decision to resolve a book controversy. One insight for library practitioners and community members to manage book banning controversies can be found from governance studies, whose discussion includes public participation in governing processes. Drawing on studies of governance, this poster introduces a new viewpoint on public participation strategies in public library governance. First, a brief examination of current public library governance and public participation will be presented. The next section delivers a flow chart that helps decide which public participation methods to utilize regarding the situation and environment of a specific public library system. The flowchart will be accompanied by a definition and steps for each method of public participation. All in all, this poster will initiate a conversation to find systematic governance methods to break through book banning controversies that prohibit healthy debates about the future of public libraries.