In recent cases in South Carolina and North Carolina, library leadership has been removed after adhering to established policies on book challenges. These incidents highlight emerging tactics by political groups to influence public libraries. The actions followed decisions to retain certain books in collections despite complaints.
Public libraries in Pickens County, South Carolina, and Randolph County, North Carolina, have become sites of political contention over book selections and governance. In Pickens County, the library certified compliance with a 2024 state budget proviso requiring no materials appealing to the prurient interest of children under 17, securing funds in 2025. However, in early 2026, some board members delayed recertification to push for new policies amid ongoing community demands for book removals since 2024.
Challenges targeted books like Raina Telgemeier’s Drama, which the board retained in the juvenile section, and others featuring stories of people of color or queer individuals. A January 2026 meeting discussed updating the collection policy, including distinguishing young adult (defined as ages 18-25) from teen materials and removing references to the Library Bill of Rights. The updated policy, passed on February 12 despite calls for legal review, required reviewing over 86,000 items, leading the director to announce programming cancellations.
Days later, the board fired the director without explanation, though it followed the new policy. On March 6, 2026, the board delayed voting on the policy but proceeded with the firing and planned to gut the young adult section. They appointed interim director Bruce Heimburger, a retired librarian, to work part-time. Board president Danny Parton is a conservative pastor, member Mark Kilburn is involved with the local Republican Party, and former member Brian Aiken was a Baptist pastor.
In Randolph County, a fall 2025 complaint arose over Call Me Max by Kyle Lukoff, borrowed for a grandchild. The library board reviewed it per policy and voted to keep it in the children’s section after public comments. In December 2025, three of five county commissioners, dissatisfied with the outcome, fired the entire board and dissolved its bylaws, despite acknowledging policy adherence.
By March 2026, commissioners passed new bylaws appointing all nine board members, increasing their control. Pastor Jonathan Burris stated, “Because of your tenacity, a new board will soon be constituted that aligns with the values and principles of the vast majority of Randolph County citizens.” These cases illustrate efforts to override library policies for partisan goals, affecting institutional independence.
