The Pickens County Library System is in crisis.

After changing its collection policy, the Board of Trustees launched a sweeping review of more than 86,000 children’s and young adult books, a process library leadership says could take over a year. Programs are already being canceled and services delayed as staff are pulled away from serving families.

This is a massive burden on the library system and a reckless misuse of public resources.

In the middle of this upheaval, trustees voted to remove the library’s award-winning director, Stephanie, after nearly two hours of private discussion, with no public explanation.

No transparency. No accountability.

Our public libraries exist to serve everyone, not to act as political tools.

We call for:

• The immediate reinstatement of Executive Director Stephanie Howard.
• The removal of board members responsible for destabilizing the library system.
• An end to the 86,000-book review that is grossly misusing taxpayer dollars and threatening constitutional rights

South Carolinians believe in freedom, including the freedom to read. Add your name today to protect Pickens County’s libraries.