Under the county “reconsideration” policy, professional librarians must review any title that a county resident objects to; under the state “prurient interest” regulation, all public libraries must certify that no morbidly sexual materials are available to young readers in the children or teen sections — or else risk losing state funds.
The motion to move the books passed after three library board members — supported by four citizens citing Biblical values — sided with state Sen. Rex Rice, a Pickens Republican who made a guest appearance at the meeting holding a list of the 10 “prurient” books.
“I would request that you look at these books very closely,” Rice said.
When asked if he had read the books, Rice said he had not.
The request to move the books was not on the library board’s agenda, and a list of the books in question was not available to the public on the night of the vote. Board members used an agenda item to certify compliance with the state proviso to justify a vote to move the books.
One of Rice’s supporters, Johnelle Raines, used the meeting’s public comments to pray for the board.
“Help them, O Lord, to plan for a better future that is aligned with your purpose, one that protects the innocent minds of minors from harmful ideas and surround them with the Holy Spirit’s wise counsel,” Raines said.
Another attendee, Peter Greenberger, said he was shocked that “intelligent adults” would continue debating whether books with “graphic descriptions of sexual acts” should be accessible to children.
But six citizens — including two high school students — pushed back, arguing that the state proviso is overly vague and that book collections should represent a broad cross-section of the community.
“My parents don’t care if I read a book where teenagers drink alcohol,” said Mae Anderson, a member of Students Against Book Banning. “They know that after years of being warned against underage drinking, one book isn’t going to convince me. I am more than what I read.”