To ensure the Pickens County Library Board is acting in the interest of the public and not a private political agenda, I have filed a formal request under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10). The FOIA is a law that guarantees the public's right to access government records. If our tax dollars fund it, we have a right to see how decisions are being made. Here is exactly what we are looking for:

1. The "Request for Reconsideration" Paper Trail

The Goal: To see if the "thousands of challenges" cited as the reason for the $160,000 audit are actually coming from a tiny, vocal minority using national scripts (like BookLooks.org).

The Request: All book challenge forms submitted since 2022, including the names of the complainants and the titles they want removed.

2. The "Onerous" Policy Origins

The Goal: To determine if the "Review of Materials" policy—which forced the cancellation of our kids' programs—was written by professional librarians or handed to the Board by outside political groups like "No Porn in Pickens" (NPP) or "Moms for Liberty."

The Request: All emails, texts, and letters between Board members and these specific political organizations regarding the new collection policies.

3. Board Appointment Transparency

The Goal: To verify if qualified experts (educators, librarians, and nonprofit leaders) were intentionally bypassed for political appointees.

The Request: All applications for the Library Board seats in 2024 and 2025, including the Council’s notes on why specific individuals were chosen or rejected.