Board rejects renaming of Hilton Head''s "South Carolina Room" for Jonathan Daniels; approves plaque instead

The Beaufort County Library board considered and rejected a request to rename the Hilton Head branch's South Carolina Room for journalist and longtime library advocate Jonathan Daniels, and instead approved installing a commemorative plaque.

A proposal to change the room's name was introduced by a citizen (David Lauderdale, according to board remarks) to honor Jonathan Daniels and author John Jakes for their contributions to the library. A trustee moved to rename the South Carolina Room after Daniels and the motion was seconded.

During discussion, at least one trustee argued renaming the room would reduce the name's descriptive value and be difficult to implement: "The South Carolina room has held that name for the last quarter of a century," the trustee said, recommending alternate forms of recognition such as a wall plaque. Trustees also raised concerns about preserving the room's purpose as a repository for South Carolina information and the practical complications of changing a long-standing room name.

On a hand vote, the board recorded 2 votes in favor and 5 opposed; the renaming motion failed. The board then approved a separate motion to honor Jonathan Daniels with a plaque or similar recognition; the motion carried and trustees volunteered to work on the wording and installation.

The board did not adopt a formal naming policy change at the meeting; staff noted the existing donations policy states proposals for naming spaces should be submitted to the library director for review and brought to the board for approval.