Greenville County library board passes amended collections policy, removes anti-trans language

Tim Carlin, Greenville News
·3 min read
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Before an overflowing meeting room inside the Hughes Main Library, the Greenville County Library System’s Board of Trustees passed an amended version of its controversial proposed collections policy change on Monday, March 27.

Ridiculed by LGBTQ+ advocates and allies as a way to censor content with queer themes from children and young adults, the proposed policy advanced by the library system's materials committee earlier this month was amended at Monday's board meeting to remove language involving gender identity after three board members raised concerns about potential First Amendment violations.

After more than an hour of discussion that included multiple amendments and even an attempt to completely table the policy, board members unanimously passed a version of the policy that will now only limit access to books with graphic depictions of sexual acts and violence.

Because there is not a limit to the amount of times a library policy can be changed, the materials committee could choose to meet again and reintroduce a materials restriction based on gender identity.

It is unclear if the materials committee plans to meet again before the next full board meeting, scheduled for April 24.

After the meeting, Board Chair Allan Hill told reporters he was unsure of a timeline or process for the newly amended policy's implementation at this time.

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Multiple amendments lead to passage of trimmed policy

After presenting the initial proposed policy changes to the board, Materials Committee Chair Elizabeth Collins made a motion to update the policy's language.

She suggested changing the phrase "gender transition ideology" and its accompanying definition to "gender identity" throughout the policy. A move she said was suggested because she felt all discussions of gender identity, not just those about transgender people, should be left to parents.

Vice Chair Joe Poore and Board Members Brian Aufmuth and Kenneth Baxter all expressed concern about the proposed amendment's vague language, saying it could open up the board to First Amendment violations and possible litigation.

Previous Reporting: Greenville County library committee advances proposal to limit transgender-themed materials

Members of the public came to a packed house at the Hughes Main Library in downtown Greenville on March 27, 2023.The Board of Trustees of the Greenville County Library system took up the matter of who would have direct access to certain books at the library. People on both sides of the issue stood shoulder to shoulder to get a chance to make public comments on the issue of book access in the library system. Library Board of Trustees member Elizabeth Collins makes remarks.

"Lawyers are expensive, but First Amendment lawyers are particularly expensive," Poore said to a chuckle from some audience members.

Collins' proposed amendment eventually passed, with Collins, along with Board Members James Hoard, Kristen Odom, Marcia Moston and Bill Pinkston, voting in favor.

Attempt to send Greenville Library policy back to committee fails

Poore then introduced a motion to send the proposed collections policy changes back to the materials committee for further review. He cited a lack of a legal review of the proposed changes along with a lack of staff input as reasons for holding the policy until at least the board's next meeting on April 24, 2023.

Hill, along with Collins and Odom, questioned which parts of the bill Poore took issue with. They encouraged him to change his motion and to only table those specific portions for further review.

After a lengthy discussion, Poore decided to offer his motion to the board unchanged. Poore's motion failed, with only himself, Aufmuth, Baxter and Tommy Hughes voting in favor of tabling the policy change.

Members of the public came to a packed house at the Hughes Main Library in downtown Greenville on March 27, 2023.The Board of Trustees of the Greenville County Library system took up the matter of who would have direct access to certain books at the library. People on both sides of the issue stood shoulder to shoulder to get a chance to make public comments on the issue of book access in the library system. Brian Aufuth of the Board of Trustees makes remarks.

Third amendment leads to policy change passing, board hears public comment

After Poore's motion failed, Aufmuth introduced an amendment similar to what Hill had previously asked Poore to consider − remove the more contentious parts of the policy while passing certain portions that all board members agreed with.

Aufmuth suggested removing language about gender identity and voting on a stripped-back policy. His motion passed with just Collins, Hoard and Moston voting against it.

The amended policy — a removal of materials with graphic depictions of sexual and/or violent acts from the juvenile and young adult collections and into the parent and adult fiction collections, respectively — then passed unanimously.

At the end of the meeting, board members heard public comment from 10 people — five in favor the collections policy change and five opposed.

− Tim Carlin covers county government, growth and development for The Greenville News. Follow him on Twitter@timcarlin_, and get in touch with him at TCarlin@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Greenville library board passes policy, removes anti-trans language