EVANS, Ga. (WJBF) – Controversy continues at the Columbia County Library.
The advisory board held its first meeting Tuesday since new guidelines were put in place a few months ago.
Many library patrons showed up at the meeting, with a total of six people speaking for or against the age-appropriateness guidelines for shelving books.
The guidelines address topics like sexuality, profanity, and violence.
Since they were established, multiple books previously in the children’s or young adult section have been moved to the adult section.
Those in favor of the guidelines argue children and young adults should not be exposed to certain materials in those books.
“It’s not appropriate for a child to discover something that’s not appropriate, something that has to do with incest, or sex, or pictures of activities of like that. And it can happen, and it has happened. So we protect our children,” said library patron Brenda Heidman.
Opponents argue the guidelines are too vague, target books with LGBTQ+ material and infringe upon the right to information.