Editor, The Times:
I grew up on a farm reading the Little House on the Prairie books, Nancy Drew, and any book about horses I could get my hands on. My first trip to the public library was with my grandma.
As a child, I always believed the public library was an enchanting place filled with stories and knowledge. As an adult, I still believe this, but I also see it as a crucial space to build community, strengthen literacy, increase access to information and expand opportunity. At the heart of the library is a most American institution — everyone is welcomed and can see themselves represented.
The Okefenokee Regional Library System (OKRLS) has proudly served the Appling, Bacon, Clinch, Pierce and Ware County communities since 1955. For the over 61,000 patrons who walked through our doors last year, accessing technology and internet, movies, magazines, newspapers, and yes, even books, helped them become more prosperous members of our communities. These services and programs, such as learning how to use the computer, play chess or crochet, keep community members engaged and kids off our streets. Just as defunding the police would be catastrophic, so would defunding our public libraries.
By the end of any given day, library staff will have helped a veteran secure their benefits, found just the perfect book about fire trucks for an excited young reader, assisted a patron applying for a job, worked with someone who was just gifted an e-reader to download their first book and helped a patron with increasingly failing sight find large print and audiobooks.
Though there’s been recent distractions and discord, I am truly excited about a new mural at our headquarters in Waycross. We’ve been partnering with the local American Legion on a “Land of the Free, Home of the Brave” patriotic mural to honor those from our area who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.
I believe public libraries belong to the public, but I equally believe it’s important that the public has access to accurate and complete information.
The safety of our patrons — especially our children — is something library staff take very seriously. All of our bathroom entrances are closely monitored by staff via security camera and line-of-sight. All but one of our branches has single-occupancy bathrooms available and children are directed to use those bathrooms at our facilities. There has never been an incident involving a child in our bathrooms, so this vigilance is effective. That being said, our library trustees and myself recognize the potential for issues raised by concerned citizens on this matter and we have begun the process of moving to all single-occupancy bathrooms for our libraries.
Throughout the pandemic, my primary focus was keeping our libraries open with essential services going. We closed only very briefly during the state-mandated lockdown even as we continued to answer calls and deliver books and materials to our shut-in patrons.
The much-discussed issue with the flags was limited to only one of our five libraries. These 3” x 5” flags resembled small decorative pennant flags more than anything else. Not only did they not catch my eye but they were unnoticed by the tens of thousands of patrons who entered the Waycross-Ware County Public Library during the pandemic.
As soon as it was brought to my attention nearly a year ago, I immediately met with and listened to all those concerned, initiating a process for our Waycross-Ware County library trustees to hear, consider, and address it and they did. The flags came down.
We have books, movies, materials and programs, such as book clubs, that include a wide-range of topics and interests.
Indeed, one of our book clubs is Christian-centered.
We recognize and respect parents’ right to raise their children — not the library and not other children’s parents. We ensure that parents are directly in charge of their children’s access to and use of library resources by requiring anyone under the age of 18 have parental permission to check out books or movies, use the computer or join a book club.
As director, it is my responsibility to follow the law, provide sound advice to trustees and implement board-approved policies. However, a current version of the proposed display policy goes far further than the issues at hand, with outright bans on displays for a variety of topics, such as Hanukah, Sexual Abuse Awareness Month, 9/11 and Easter not just in our children’s area but anywhere in the library. If adopted, it would be a policy restricting representation from these and other groups.
My husband and I moved to this area in January of 2018 and we are proud to call this community our home. We have a great team at OKRLS — our library staff and our patrons have all come together to create something special for our communities. Don’t just take my word for it — OKRLS was recognized by the state as the 2019 Georgia Public Library System of the Year and Alma-Bacon County Branch Manager Natorra Madison Moody was named the 2020 Georgia Public Library Employee of the Year.
This was why I came to this area, why I bought a house, attend church, participate in civic organizations and pay taxes here. I’m more than just a title or position, but I’m also a citizen and a neighbor. So many people here have made me feel welcome in a way I haven’t felt in my previous roles in South Georgia.
People on all sides of the discussion and debate are just that — people. Just as each and every member of our community, no matter their race, sex, creed, age, disability, or national origin, are able to not only co-exist but exist as neighbors in a society of mutual respect, we must expect our libraries to be spaces where love for thy neighbors and our common purpose for a more thriving community come together.
There have been mistakes on all sides. There have been misfires on all sides. But we miss an opportunity if we do not steer this passion, energy, and focus toward a common cause and commitment that can move our libraries and communities forward.
Meanwhile, we at OKRLS will continue to provide the highest level of customer service, safety and responsiveness that our patrons have come to expect.
Martha F. Powers-Jones Director,
Okefenokee Regional Library System
Waycross
