Charleston County Residents Rally to Support Libraries

Charleston County Residents Rally to Support Libraries

In response to proposed restrictions on library materials, over 50 Charleston County residents attended a Charleston County Public Library (CCPL) Board of Trustees meeting held at the Otranto Road Library on August 22nd. The large turnout showed overwhelming support for the libraries, particularly concerning their control over the accessibility of the library’s collection.

Opposing Proposed Changes

The meeting, which saw a higher attendance than usual, had residents filling the community room and spilling into the hallways. Out of the 16 individuals who spoke, fourteen supported the current library policies. Only one person expressed support for the petition and resolution from the Charleston County Republican Party which proposes the relocation of books with explicit sexual content to a restricted area, off-limits to those under the age of 18.

LaTisha Vaughn, one of the residents in attendance, opposed the proposed restrictions, stating, “If I don’t want my child to have access to a book, I as a parent will make sure that they don’t, and I will work with the librarians to make sure that they don’t have access. I do not think that I have the right to infringe my beliefs on someone else or take away their access for their children because I don’t think it is appropriate for mine.”

Previous Disputes and Decisions

This is not the first time Charleston County has been involved in such discussions. Five people previously voiced their views about book accessibility at the CCPL Board of Trustees meeting on June 27th. Both in this meeting and another Charleston County Council meeting on August 13th, they presented the Charleston County Republican Party’s resolution to restrict access to sexually explicit books for those under 18.

Andrew Boucher, Charleston County Republican Party Chair, clarified the party’s stance saying, “No one’s trying to ban any books. This is overheated rhetoric from left-wing activists. We just simply think they should be in a different room.”

An Ongoing Statewide Issue

This issue isn’t isolated to Charleston County, with other areas of South Carolina facing similar challenges. Notably, the Greenville County School District recently canceled its book fairs for the remainder of the year following a recently passed state law restricting the provision of materials considered inappropriate for a student’s age or developmental level.

Support for Current Policies

In defense of the current policies and against the Republican resolution, national advocacy group Defense of Democracy initiated a petition on August 19th, gathering nearly 2,000 signatures by August 23rd. Executive Director Karen Svoboda stated, “We respect and honor librarians who are the only ones who have the background and experience to make decisions as to what goes on library shelves, and we stand shoulder to shoulder with our educators and families in defense of the attack on our public library system.”

CCPL’s Stance and Measures

Angela Craig, executive director of the CCPL, mentioned that library patrons who take issue with specific library materials can complete a reconsideration request form. CCPL’s internal committee then reviews the material and gives recommendations on its suitability for continued inclusion in the library’s collection. Ultimately, the decision lies with Craig.

As noted by the associate director of communication and marketing for CCPL, Doug Reynolds, there are currently over 220,000 library cardholders within the CCPL system. Irrespective of their age, no cardholder faces any restrictions.

While no action was taken regarding the relocation or restriction of any books during the meeting, library patrons were encouraged to use the reconsideration request forms should they have concerns. This approach ensures that library operations remain inclusive and democratic, while still addressing individual concerns.