Statement from Library Board Chair on behalf of the York County Library Board of Trustees
On behalf of the York County Library (YCL) Board of Trustees, we wish to inform the public of an important decision made by the YCL board at its October 10, 2024, meeting. The board voted to place a moratorium on purchasing any materials for minors (17 and under) until further clarification and guidance is received from the state regarding Proviso 27.1 and until the Attorney General makes a ruling providing libraries with guidance for collection development.
The motion passed with a 4-3 vote. Those in favor were Dennis Getter, Carol Herring, Susan Piening, and Tim Steele. Those opposed were Wendi Michael, Charles Robinson, and Anne Witte.
This moratorium is in effect immediately and will be in place indefinitely as we work to ensure we are in full compliance with any new regulations or requirements or until the board chooses to dissolve the moratorium.
The motion and resulting action refer to information in a memorandum issued by the State Library to SC library directors regarding State Aid which reads: “The State Library is in the process of requesting an attorney general’s opinion on the matter related to authority of collection development in public libraries.”
The memorandum also outlines the requirements the State Library determined for compliance with Proviso 27.1 to receive State Aid. York County Library meets all the requirements, and the YCL board signed the Certification Form in June of 2024.
Please know that we understand the impact these changes will have, and we are committed to working diligently to find solutions that address the needs of our community while meeting the requirements set forth by our state legislature.
In Service,
Dr. Anne Royal Witte on behalf of the York County Library Board of Trustees
