Editor, The Times:
Close our library! Aghast!
I read with interest the news article about the June 6 Pierce County Commission Meeting.
I would like to offer another viewpoint about “Library Issues.” The Okefenokee Regional Library (OKRLS) policy states, “Internet computers are not to be used for illegal activity and/or to transmit, receive, or access illegal materials, pornography, and/or other obscene materials.”
What is obscene? Justice Potter Stewart faced this question in 1964. What is the definition of hard-core pornography? He answered, “I know it when I see it.”
The First Amendment guarantees freedom of association. OKRLS meeting rooms are available on equal terms to all groups in the community, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of the groups’ members. All activities taking place in the meeting rooms must be free and open to the public and cannot be closed to any person on the basis of age, gender, race, religion, national origin, disabling condition, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected category.
OKRLS has a Policy concerning Child & Dependent Safety. We all want our children safe and free from sexual exploitation.
I see no OKRLS policy concerning personal pronouns. Perhaps I missed it. Read the policies yourselves at https://okrls.org/library-policies/
The bathrooms at the Pierce County Library have multiple single stalls. One restroom is available for single occupancy. If you don’t want uninvited guests, lock the door.
Rescinding funds or closing the library is not the way to serve our community of 11,960 patron visits this past seven months. This is an 8.4% increase over last year.
Let’s have dialogue. We have meeting rooms available. Lavonnia Moore and her staff are eager to help you. She envisions our Library as a community center. If you don’t have a Pines library card, they’re free of charge. Good reading.
Kenneth W. Beck Sr.
Pierce County Friends of the Library Secretary and Pines Library card holder
Blackshear
