Patron warns Columbia County library policy gaps could leave age‑based shelving as default; reports repeated missing LGBTQ titles

Karen Parham, speaking in her individual capacity but identifying work with the Freedom to Read Coalition of Columbia County, urged commissioners to finalize a content‑neutral, professionally grounded collection development policy before age‑based shelving guidelines default in January 2026.

Parham said that if no policy is adopted by the system launch, the current age‑based shelving guidelines — which she described as "divisive and confusing" — effectively become the system’s governing standard. She also reported that the book Gender Queer was missing from the Evans branch (missing since Oct. 5 in the local system) and that another LGBTQ title was recently reported missing; Parham encouraged strengthened security measures and attention to patrons' concerns without assigning blame.

Parham recommended clarifying checkout records and staff processes (she said missing items did not show as missing in the system until staff looked) and emphasized that libraries should serve everyone and be guided by professionals. Commissioners thanked her for the input; staff did not announce an immediate policy decision at the meeting.

Next steps: Parham called for improved security and a clear collection policy before the January system launch; the county did not adopt a policy at the Dec. 2 meeting.