Episode 41: Library Board Punts 🏈 on LGBTQ Books

Listening to their lawyer, the York County Library Board wasn’t ready to institute a new policy of moving books written for children about LGBTQ+ issues, or just including LGBTQ+ characters, from the Children’s section to the Adult section at it’s August meeting. Instead, they will have “continuing discssions” about the matter until… who knows?

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The meeting was held at noon on August 14 at the main branch of the Library in Rock Hill. Attendance was limited to 60, with public comments from six speakers, limited to two minutes each. At its July meeting, the Board dropped the requirements that public comments must address agenda items, with three ‘for’ and three' ‘against’. Instead, the public may comment on any issue. The YCL web page has yet to reflect that change.

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Members of Support YCL arrived early, some before 10 AM, to make sure they would get in and secure speaking slots. It turned out that they dominated the audience, with only a few supporters of the Board’s expected new policy in the room, and only one speaking.

After public comments, Treasurer Dennis Getter reported that the Policy Committee had turned the draft of their LGBTQ+ policy over to the County attorney, and expected to review “partial comments” in the upcoming Executive Session. He said they “have been forewarned about lawsuits and we’re proceeding very cautiously with the correct policy.”

Then Chairman Tim Steele adjourned the meeting to begin their Executive Session, which means the public was not permitted to hear the County attorney’s report or the Board’s discussion, and the audience and media filed out.

Support YCL took the opportunity to take a group photo with the paper Links of Love chain, with each loop representing someone who signed a petition to oppose the draft policy.

When the Executive session was over and the audience was seated again, Chairman Steele reported that the Board took no action. Support YCL members discussed that with some Board members during a break, and learned that the board would “continue discussions” about the policy in committee meetings. No date was set for future action.

Support YCL members draped with the Links of Love paper chain