Oconee County library board tables decision on funding community resource position

The Oconee County Public Library Board of Trustees on July 28 tabled a motion that would have barred use of library funds to continue a grant-funded community resource (social-worker) position, instead agreeing to hold a public community-relations committee meeting to gather more information and public comment.

The motion to prohibit using library funds for the position was introduced by a buildings-and-grounds committee member (speaker 5) after debate about whether the role fits “library purposes.” Speaker 5 cited South Carolina code in arguing “all funds appropriated, earned, granted, or donated to the library system…shall be used exclusively for library purposes,” and moved that the board not fund the library resource associate from library funds. Director Blair (speaker 6) said the staff had secured short-term options and that “the state librarian had said to me that we could use state aid to pay for this library service.”

Board members divided over the policy and budget implications. Opponents of library-fund support argued the board would be accountable if state law or fund-purpose rules were breached and expressed reluctance to reduce book and materials budgets to cover personnel. Supporters urged a one-year, “Band-Aid” approach if it preserved services to vulnerable residents while staff pursued grants or county funding.

Rather than adopt or reject funding immediately, the board voted to table the motion and schedule a publicly advertised community-relations committee meeting to solicit more specifics about the job duties, the client population served, and alternative funding partners, and to invite representatives from social services or similar agencies. The board’s decision defers a final policy vote and sets a procedural next step for public input and additional documentation.