Freedom to Read Coalition of Columbia County

06/18/2026

Update for this quarter:
Challenged by FTRCCC members and returned to YA: The Poet X, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda, and The Fault in Our Stars

Priscilla Bence challenged Fallout for references to s*x and drugs. She asked for it to be moved from YA to Adult. The library retained it in YA. The board voted to uphold the librarians’ decision to keep the book in YA.

The Columbia County Library System Board denied an appeal seeking to move "Fallout" by Ellen Hopkins from the Young Adult section to the Adult section.

The meeting also featured public comment on library policies, book placement and concerns over missing materials from the collection.

👉 Click to read the full story: https://theaugustapress.com/columbia-county-library-board-votes-against-appeal-of-reconsideration-request/

06/18/2026

06/16/2026

06/15/2026

Take action against book bans in the United States at www.bookbanpetition.us

06/15/2026

Yes, at both the public schools and at the public library in Columbia County, the ones frequently trying to ban books are not actually parents of minor children.

When people talk about book challenges, they often picture a parent raising concerns about a specific title.

But according to the American Library Association, 92% of book challenges in 2025 were initiated by pressure groups, government officials, administrators, and other decision-makers, not individual parents.

Understanding who is driving censorship efforts helps us better understand what's happening in libraries and schools across the country. The freedom to read depends on transparency, due process, and communities having access to a wide range of ideas.

06/14/2026

For those interested in the certification issues raised by FTRCCC's April 21 report, the following images contain the April 2026 email exchange between FTRCCC CEO Karin Parham and county officials.

In response to the report, a county official cited a GPLS email regarding state-funded positions while also asserting that the Children's Librarian Manager met all position-specific qualifications and that the library system complied with Georgia law. (That assertion was made without including the email inquiry that prompted the GPLS response. The full GPLS exchange was later obtained through open records and shared by The Columbia County Observer.)

FTRCCC's response explains why the Coalition believes those are separate questions. No further response was received after this email.

Y'all can review the exchange and decide for yourselves. A link to the full April 21 report will be posted in the comments.

Columbia County, GA - Government Columbia County Library

06/14/2026

FFS🤦‍♀️

Apparently there's a claim floating around that the Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS) determined that Laura Grove's education and public school experience qualified her for the Children's Librarian Manager position.

That is a much broader claim than what appears in the email exchange I obtained through an ORR.

On April 21, I submitted a report to the Columbia County Commission on behalf of the Freedom to Read Coalition of Columbia County raising concerns about staff certification requirements and library policy implementation. The next day, I emailed that report to the Columbia County Library Board.

Library Director Keisha Evans then emailed GPLS stating that she had "come to realize" that her Children's Librarian Manager held only a Grade 2 Georgia library certificate and asked whether she had her "bases covered." (A Grade 2 certificate is a paraprofessional (support-role) credential, not Georgia's professional librarian credential.)

GPLS responded that certain state-funded positions require a Master's in Library and Information Science (MLIS) and a Georgia librarian license for state funding. GPLS further stated that if the Children's Librarian Manager position was not state-funded, there was "no cause for concern."

What I do not see in this email exchange is a determination that Ms. Grove's education and public school experience qualified her for a public library leadership position, nor do I see a statement that her background was equivalent to a Grade 5 professional librarian credential.

If there is a separate letter from GPLS, the Board of Regents, or another state authority making that determination, I would genuinely like to see it.

Until then, we have this email exchange.

Note: I cropped the bottom portion of Ms. Evans' email rather than posting a second image. The omitted section simply lists Ms. Grove's academic credentials, professional experience, and awards.
Columbia County Library Columbia County, GA - Government

06/13/2026

06/12/2026

Congratulations Angela!

We are excited to announce that Angela Stanley has been named Vice Chancellor of Public Libraries for the University System of Georgia, where she will serve as Georgia’s State Librarian beginning July 1, 2026. She will succeed Julie Walker, who is retiring after leading GPLS as Vice Chancellor for Libraries & Archives and State Librarian since 2014.

Stanley will provide strategic leadership and vision for the nationally recognized Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS) and Georgia Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (GLS). She has served as Assistant State Librarian since 2022 and brings over 15 years of experience in Georgia libraries and archives.

"It’s my deepest honor to serve our incredible library community," said Stanley. "As drivers of literacy, partners in economic and workforce development, and community anchors, our public libraries are the infrastructure of opportunity for Georgians.”

Read more at georgialibraries.org/university-system-of-georgia-names-state-librarian

University System of Georgia