A Columbia County Library Board Meeting on the morning of Feb. 12 brought on book shelving appeals from a local woman, rejecting the recommendations of new Library Manager, Keisha Evans, who recently reviewed and determined shelving for eight books.
Adhering to new reshelving guidelines and her interpretation of them, Evans decided that some of these books should remain in their original sections. Several others she opted to move to shelves deemed more age appropriate.
Priscilla Bence, a community member who has been a resounding voice in favor of the guidelines, petitioned for six of the books reviewed by Evans to be moved to the adult section, “for adult supervision.”
Titles appealed by Bence include “Téo’s Tutu” by Maryann Jacob Marcias, “And Tango Makes Three” by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, “Drama” by Raina Telgemeier, “The Other Boy” by H.G. Hennessey, “Gracefully Grayson” by Ami Polonsky and “Ryan and Avery” by David Levithan.
LBGTQ Propaganda?
One book Bence appealed, “And Tango Makes Three,” is a true story for children about a co-parenting relationship between two male penguins at the Central Park Zoo, tackling the topic of non-traditional families.
Bence referred to the book as “propaganda,” saying that “It gradually introduces the audience to the concept of same-sex parents…young children do not need this confusion early in life.”
“Ryan and Avery,” a book about a relationship between two males, is another title that Bence mentioned, and is one reason she believes the Young Adult selection should be abolished, “as it harbors this type of adult book.”
“The normalizing and making heroes of the gays is not helpful for young teens,” she added.
Bence shared her concerns about all six titles, all of which include or focus on themes of homosexuality.
Additionally, Bence claimed that six months ago there were allegedly 58 LGBTQ-centered books in the teen or young adult sections, 20 in the children’s section and 98 in the juvenile section. According to Bence, these numbers have since risen to 124, 44 and 178, respectively.
“Things have gotten worse in spite of a wonderful ordinance,” she said.
The board stated that they are not able to make any decisions yet regarding the books Bence highlighted on Wednesday, as they must first review the titles themselves.
Legal matters
Community member Greta Newman, who is opposed to the new reshelving guidelines, mentioned during public participation the potential legal repercussions of the reshelving guidelines as detailed by a Savannah-based attorney.
Attorney Wade Herring wrote a letter to the Regional Library Board dated Nov. 19, 2024, which included a synopsis of the legal risks at hand with the guidelines in place.
“If the Library votes “yes” to reclassify and relocate books and materials, then the Library and its board members should be prepared to be sued in federal court,” the letter states.
Furthermore, Herring writes: “Board members could be sued in both their official and individual capacities. Even if the Library has insurance to cover such claims, an insurance company could decline coverage if it determined that Board members had acted intentionally in violation of the law.”
“Herring has provided clear examples of communities who have paid a large price for attempting to circumvent First Amendment rights,” said Newman. “And as a taxpayer, I really don’t think that that’s something that I wanna be funding.”
Continued pushback against guidelines
Members of the public were, as always, invited to speak at the meeting; A number of individuals who have been actively speaking out about the guidelines reappeared to reiterate their concerns.
Marlena Bergeron, a former member of the Library Board, took a passionate stance against the guidelines, saying that they target books with gay characters despite claims that that is not the intention.
“LGBTQIA books are part of the library, and it’s less than 1% of the books,” she said.
“When I walk in [the library], it still says ‘The Public Library’. It doesn’t say ‘The Pentecostal Library’, it doesn’t say the ‘Priscilla Bence Library,’ or the ‘Moms for ‘Liberty Library,’” she added.
Conversation and debate around the guidelines is expected to continue.
