Conservative Takeover of CC Library

September 17, 2024

Originally posted to Facebook on September 17, 2024.

In reviewing much of the information that was captured in a recent open records request, I would like to highlight the politics of the situation of what we’re seeing at the Columbia County Library. I submitted two open records requests. One was for all communication to and from the Columbia County Board of Commissioners (CCBoC) and the other was for all communication to and from the Columbia County Library Advisory Board (CCLAB) from 5/1/2024 to 9/10/2024 given the following keywords: reconsideration, library, guidelines, appropriate, LGBTQ, placement. These requests brought up quite a bit of email traffic. 

The most prominent person creating many of the challenges (or “Reconsideration” as the process is called at our Library) is Priscilla Bence. I will reference these as book challenges but reference the process as the “Reconsideration” process. Many others have also challenged various books in the library over the past few years, but Mrs. Bence is responsible for about half of the challenges, and has been noted in the media numerous times for her activism. I will not be referring to other challengers by name, although it is part of public record. 

The most prominent commissioner spear-heading this effort is District 4, Alison Couch. District 3 Mike Carraway was included in much of the email traffic as well but had sparse email responses. As CCLAB Chair Sandra Carraway’s husband though, perhaps he communicated with her over dinner rather than through email. I wouldn’t want to totally give Connie Melear a total pass though. She submitted a Reconsideration form for the book “Rainbow Parade” which was subsequently completely banned from the library. Let’s also note that the CCAB is all appointed by the CCBoC, and with recent changes to the guidelines, it is the CCLAB dictating changes at the library.

It’s my opinion that these challenges are being used as a political wedge issue and rallying cry for conservatives more than anything else. Oftentimes, the challengers of books readily admit that they’ve never read the book and they heard about the book through social media outlets or online. You can disagree with Mrs. Bence’s concerns/positions, but I’ll give her credit where credit is due. She seems to have actually read many, if not all, of the books she’s challenged, has decent grammar and beautiful handwriting. I can’t say the same for many of the other challengers. However, the one thing in common in all of these book challenges is that they echo much of the rhetoric and talking points that are in right-wing media and politics right now. For example, Mrs. Bence sent this article from The Federalist to the CCLAB. (https://thefederalist.com/2024/06/10/scholastic-promotes-lgbt-indoctrination-with-read-with-pride-guide-for-parents-teachers/) Mrs. Bence seems to have a severe animus against the LGBTQ community that is apparent throughout her public statements and Reconsideration Form submissions. Throughout these Reconsideration Submissions the buzzwords of indoctrination, grooming, gender-confused, etc are frequent. To underline the political prevalence of these challenges, 4 of the challenges were split between two individuals and stated that they were representing the organization, “Faith and Freedom Coalition” based out of Duluth, GA. Here is their website if you would like to know the flavor of their politics: https://www.ffcoalition.com/ Even candidate CJ Pearson, candidate for GA House 125, filled out a Reconsideration Form for a book that he didn’t like.

Also, many of the same individuals from Columbia County Republican Women, including Mrs. Bence, which were prevalent during the book challenges a few years back at school board meetings, are in attendance now at the library. My belief is that the CCBoC appointed many of the CCLAB members in order to spearhead this effort to censor books at the public library (remember Dr. Carraway’s history with book banning at the school district back in 2019) in an effort to acquiesce to this relatively small group.

Through the email traffic, it appears that board member Lindsey Brantley became very upset with library staff after the June meeting. Some of Brantley’s complaints of staff reacting to comments during the meeting may have been valid although, after 3 years of our librarians receiving constant harassment from this same group of conservative women, and then now the CCLAB seemingly siding with these ridiculous claims, who can really blame them for beginning to get upset? They are only human. Further, in an email dated 8/13/2024 to Mike Carroway, Tripp Calloway (who works for Carroway) complained that he felt staff was wearing a “Read with pride” shirt in order to show opposition to the board and challengers. Why would wearing a “Read with Pride” shirt show opposition to the board unless Mr. Calloway admits that the board is maligned against the LGBTQ community? Anyway, Brantley sent the complaint to Community Services Director John Lutton, County Deputy Manager Glen Kennedy, Alison Couch and Dr. Carroway. In my interpretation, the June meeting seemed like a gateway for a reason to further the political takeover of the Library and the board began to become more aggressive in asserting their new authority given to them from county management and CCBoC. As part of Dr. Carraway’s reply to Brantley which included Alison Couch, she stated after expressing disappointment with library staff, “Notwithstanding, I am encouraged and most thankful to have someone of Alison’s good character addressing this problem, and I am certain we’re now on the right path to curing what feels like a potentially terminal illness!”

After this meeting, Brantley also shared the website BookLooks.org for the first time as a resource in determining the categorization of books for placement. It was also hinted that perhaps, this would be used as a resource for purchasing decisions as well. Using BookLooks in this way is problematic as it is tied to Moms For Liberty. (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2023/10/05/website-driving-banned-books-surge-moms-for-liberty/70922213007/) Yes, the same Moms For Liberty that is designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center as “extremist” (https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/moms-liberty). Essentially, it is very vague who exactly is reviewing these books on the website’s database. The owner of the site claims that she has a team that reviews the books but she has not divulged their identity. She also has not claimed to have any credentials such as a degree in library science or literature, that would add credibility to her own book reviews on the site. If you look at the most recent “Columbia County Library Guidelines for Determining Book Placement” (which was created by Dr. Carraway and Lindsey Brantley), and compare it to the ratings used on BooksLooks, you will notice they are closely aligned.  Let’s make this real clear. The CCBoC passed guidelines for our PUBLIC library to bypass our credentialed professional librarians and utilize standards based on a rating system that has ties to an extremist group, in order to place children’s books that they don’t like into the adult section of the library and replace them with who knows what. Also, if you look at the guidelines for Georgia Libraries (/https://georgialibraries.org/trustee_files/appendix/GPLS-Library-Standards-2021.pdf) these guidelines that CCBoC passed are not in alignment. Maybe the CCBoC would know that if they didn’t bypass a committee in order to vote the guidelines through. This may put some of the funding for all of the county libraries in jeopardy and for what? And to what end?