Residents tell commissioners shelving guidelines have weakened Columbia County libraries

During public comment at the Aug. 5 Columbia County commission meeting, multiple speakers urged the board to revisit recently adopted shelving guidelines and other library policies, arguing the changes have reduced staff, programming and access and represent political interference in professional library standards. Priscilla Bents spoke to distinctions between age-appropriate sexual health education and obscenity and said appropriate materials belong in controlled adult sections with parental supervision. Marlena Bergeron and Karen Parham criticized the policy process, alleging the county relied on a partisan database (Booklooks) and sidelined legal advice and professional standards. Parham told the board that the county’s attorney had warned in May 2023 that removing materials based on content had been consistently struck down in court and that the county proceeded regardless. Speakers cited operational effects they attribute to the policy: a reduction in story-time sessions from six to four at one branch, fewer programs and fewer certified librarians in the Evans children’s department. Commenters also said the county created a Columbia County Regional Library Board without making appointments and that staffing and promotion decisions may be influenced by loyalty to the policy rather than professional qualifications. Howard Johnson said the policies stigmatize marginalized children and urged commissioners to consider the harm of excluding representation. Speakers asked the board to defend professional, content-neutral library standards and to restore programs and staffing levels; no board action on library policy was taken at the meeting.