Columbia County Commission votes on one county Library Board

The Columbia County Board of Commissioners made a significant decision on Tuesday night, voting to withdraw from the Greater Clarks Hill Regional Library System and establish a single-county library system, effective January 1, 2026. Currently, the Georgia Public Library System (GPLS) has 60 participating member library systems, with 27 being single-county and 33 multi-county regional systems. Columbia County will continue to be a member of the GPLS as a single-county system. The Columbia County Library System will be comprised of the Evans Branch, Grovetown Branch, and Harlem Branch.

Library patrons can be confident that this transition will not compromise the quality or availability of any existing library services. The Columbia County Library is dedicated to maintaining the high standard of resources, programs, and support that the community has come to depend on.

Key Points for Patrons:

Access to Resources: Patrons will retain access to the same vast collection of books, e-books, audiobooks, and digital databases (Overdrive, Libby, Hoopla, Galileo, etc.)

Interlibrary Loans: The library will continue to participate in the interlibrary loan system through PINES, enabling residents to borrow materials from libraries from across the state.

Technology Services: Public computers, WI-FI, and other technology resources will remain accessible.

Programs and Events: All educational programs, community events, and children’s activities will proceed as planned.

State Funding and Support: The transition to a single-county system will not affect state funding or grant opportunities. The library will continue to receive state support based on population.