Update from the Library Committee: 09-23-2024
The following is a summary of what has transpired over the past two (2) years that has
brought us to where we are today regarding the Anderson County Library Board of
Trustees.
First, local officials Richard Cash (State Senator, 3rd District – https://richardcash.sc/) and Jimmy Davis (County
Councilman, District 6 – https://www.facebook.com/votejimmydavis/) learned that the Anderson County library system was promoting
LBGTQ+ books in the juvenile sections. Senator Cash and Councilman Davis made
the public aware of this through the Anderson County Republican Party (ACRP). The
ACRP asked Kevin Hardy to head up a committee to address this issue. The committee
of approximately 12 people met monthly and planned their course of action which
included:
- Identifying 200+ books in the Anderson County library system that were rated age-inappropriate for the juvenile and young adult sections.
- Read and contest books through the library appeals process, which can take up to four (4) months per book.
- Speak at Anderson County Library board meetings to voice our opposition to library materials.
- Contact local officials and encourage them to replace existing board members.
- Recruit new board members.
- Contact other organizations that were going through the same “adventure”.
It became very apparent the existing board and library director were opposed to moving
any of these materials from their designated sections and were in fact in favor of
promoting them to our young people. Our committee began contacting local officials and
discussed the need to replace existing board members when their terms expired. We
made it clear to the county council we would publicize this issue and get the press
involved if we did not see their cooperation. Fortunately for us, five (5) of the seven) 7
board positions were up for appointments in 2023. However, the first county councilman
was unwilling to meet and discuss replacing his appointment to the board. He kept the
same person representing his district on the board. We contacted the county
councilmen who would be making the remaining appointments in 2023 and even
provided candidates for those board positions.
The next three (3) appointments were terrific. Three (3) liberal board members were
ousted and replaced with strong conservative members. The final appointment for 2023
was hotly contested. There was a lot of contact with the county councilman making the
appointment and with other parties on both sides. The councilman wasn’t convinced he
should replace his representative on the board, so he re-appointed the existing board
member. That left the library board with a minority of three (3) conservatives to four (4) liberals.
The next appointment through the normal process wouldn’t be until May 2025.
Therefore, nothing changes at the library. At the board meetings, votes were usually
split 3 to 4.
April Cromer (SC State Representative, District 6 – https://www.cromerforhouse.com/), one of the library committee
members, the county attorney, and the county council chairman met to discuss state
statutes regarding appointment and replacement of library board members. We learned
the county regulations and state statutes do not agree therefore, the state statutes take
precedence. It would require passage of a bill in the state legislature to give the SC
county councils the authority to remove county library board members before their terms
expire.
State Representative April Cromer wrote and introduced a bill in the state legislature to
do just that. The bill got stuck in committee and never saw the light of day. April Cromer
was aware another SC county had experienced a similar situation, and they had asked
the county council to appoint at large positions to a board. We learned that was an
option for us. In January 2024, our committee contacted a county council member and
suggested two (2) at large library board positions be created. The county council was
receptive and began the public hearings in February 2024 introducing this idea to the
public. The 400-seat county council chamber was filled at the second reading and
people were turned away due to lack of seating availability. Two local churches
were very instrumental in providing support at the county council meetings. After three
(3) readings and much public debate, the measure passed, and two (2) at large
positions were added to the library board.
County council began taking applications for these positions. There were 43 applicants.
A group of individuals and another local organization acquired the list of applicants,
vetted them, and conducted interviews to determine who we would recommend and
who we opposed for the library board positions. Once we completed our vetting
process, we compiled a list of who we would recommend, who we were strongly
opposed to, and who we just couldn’t make a judgement on. We submitted the list to six
(6) of the county council members and asked for their careful consideration of our work.
The county council conducted about 15 interviews and chose (two) 2 conservative
board members. The county councilman who was unwilling to discuss his appointment
in January 2023 has replaced his representative on the library board with someone who
we feel, based on her comments, and her vote on a contested book, with a conservative
member.
THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF THE ACRP LIBRARY COMMITTEE, THE RATIO ON
THE BOARD IS NOW SIX (6) CONSERVATIVES TO THREE (3) LIBERALS. AT THE
MOST RECENT LIBRARY BOARD MEETING, OFFICERS WERE CHOSEN. ALL
THREE (3) BOARD OFFICER POSITIONS WERE FILLED WITH CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS.
ONE OF OUR VERY OWN PRECINCT ECS WAS VOTED THE COUNTY
LIBRARY CHAIRMAN!!