Join Us at the December 2024 Pickens County Library Board of Trustees Meeting to Stand Up for Diversity in Our Library Collection
The pressure to censor books and limit access to diverse perspectives in the Pickens County Public Library by a small group of vocal people and SC Senator Rex Rice remains strong. This is an attack on our community’s freedom to read, learn, and grow.
Your presence at the meeting will send a powerful message to the Pickens County Library Board and county and state legislators that we stand with our librarians and want our library to be a place that fosters inclusion, diversity, and intellectual freedom.
Join us at the upcoming Library Board Meeting to show your support for:
- The Right to Read: Defend access to books, resources, and materials without censorship.
- Diversity in the Collection: Ensure that the library offers a wide range of viewpoints, including those on race, gender, sexuality, and more.
- Support for Librarians: Librarians play a crucial role in fostering an open, welcoming environment for all—let's stand up for them!
- Intellectual Freedom: Libraries are places where every voice deserves to be heard. We must protect free access to ideas, books, and information for everyone in our community.
- Karen Culley: Karen is finishing up her second term on the board. She has done a fabulous job representing all of Pickens County, which has taken courage and commitment.
What You Can Do:
- Attend the meeting and show your support for the library’s collection and its role in providing equitable access to information.
- Wear a Freedom to Read sticker. Stickers will be provided at the meeting. Look for someone with a sticker, and they will tell you where to get one.
- Speak up during the public comment period (if you're comfortable with that) to express your support for a diverse library collection or show your appreciation for what the Pickens County Library provides to you and/or the community. If you wish to speak during the public comment period, please note that speakers are limited to 3 minutes. Sign-ups for public comment begin on Monday, December 16, 2024. The public comment period is limited to 30 minutes, so be sure to email [email protected] or call 864-850-7077, ext. 189, as soon as possible to request your spot on the roster.
- Invite your friends, family, and fellow advocates—the more people who are there in support of the freedom to read, the stronger our message will be!
If You Can't Attend the Meeting, You Can Still Help:
- Write to the board.
- Contact your county council members.
- Contact your state representatives.
- If you are in Senator Rice’s district, please contact him! He was at the November meeting and said he has only heard from people who want to censor books. He is attempting to use government interference and intimidation tactics to undermine the library board’s and library’s authority. You can find his contact number here.
RSVP Now & Spread the Word! We look forward to seeing you there and standing together for intellectual freedom!
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Attendees
Starts on
Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 6:00 PM EST
Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library
304 Biltmore Road
Easley, SC, 29640
United States
Get Directions via Google Maps
