Effingham County leaders vote to end 80-year partnership with Live Oak Public Libraries

EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - Effingham County has voted to dissolve its 80-year partnership with Live Oak Public Libraries.

This is the library system that runs both the Rincon and Springfield library locations.

County leaders voted on the action Tuesday night during a packed county commission meeting.

The vote came after Live Oak representatives and community members all voiced their support of continuing the partnership with live oak libraries.

But the county voted to dissolve the partnership with commissioners saying they believes they can support and grow on their own.

They say that a recent study conducted by the county shows that removing the partnership would save the county money reducing their annual budget of around $400,000 to just over $50,000. This according to estimates presented at Tuesday nights meeting.

A unanimous decision to end the Live Oaks Public Libraries partnership and localize the library system.

The vote did not come without a fight.

Library patrons stood one by one defending needed library services – saying removing the partnership would cost the library valuable resources.

Effingham County commissioner Roger Burdette says federal and state funded resources already provided to the library would stay at the library.

And because the county already owns the buildings, the transition out to the partnership would not be as tough as some believe.

Prior to the meeting, WTOC spoke with Stephania Tillman who is a homeschool mother of five. She says she frequents the library weekly— if not daily.

“Springfield Library is a gem in Effingham County,” said Tillman. “Truly.”

She says she is in full support of doing what’s right for the county, but says the way it’s being done is rushed.

Live Oaks Public Libraries gave WTOC this statement ahead of the commission meeting:

We believe any decision to separate the Rincon and Springfield branches after more than 80 years should be taken only after careful deliberation of the facts and services. A decision like this deserves daylight and community engagement.

Live Oak Public Library

With this vote passing through Tuesday the library partnership will end June of 2026.

According to Live Oak, this withdrawal means 93% of the books and materials in the current collection will be removed as well as 90% of the technology, including computers, printers and hotspots.

In addition to dissolving the library’s partnership the commission voted to remove Erica Biezenbos from her position on the Library Board of Trustees.

A decision that in itself stirred up question on if her removal was done with due process. Biezenbos has served on the board since 2021. The Commission voting Biezenbos out and voting her replacement, Sherry Duff in as the District 3 representative on the Library Board of Trustees.