Local Leadership Matters: Why Civic Engagement Is Essential for Business

Sarabeth Stone
May 23
4 min read

By Sarabeth Stone

Since 2021, attention on public libraries has exploded across the United States. Heated exchanges continue to argue whether books containing explicit material are appropriate for young children. Elizabeth Collins, Deputy Auditor for Greenville County and Vice Chair of the Greenville County Library Board, has had frontline experience as these battles rage on.

In her presentation to the South Carolina Christian Consortium, Collins shared valuable insights into how public libraries play a quiet but important role in helping to form societal norms, and the vital opportunity businesses have, particularly as taxpaying entities, to influence local governance.

Tenacity in the Face of Adversity

When Elizabeth first joined the Greenville County Library Board in 2021, it was uneventful. In 2022, the board began hearing from a growing number of parents and constituents concerned about displays, gender fluidity content targeting young children, and explicit books gaining national attention. As interest in the library rapidly grew, Collins began investigating nationwide patterns.

"It quickly became clear that something more coordinated was behind what we were experiencing," shared Collins. "I started to notice a consistency in the language of those who did not support a conservative approach to library policy. People across the nation, who would otherwise have had no contact with one another, were saying the exact same things, nearly word for word."

One of the patterns Collins noticed was a purposeful manipulation of language. Instead of discussing the relevance of graphic sexual images and storylines in children’s books, opponents of purported “book bans” began to claim that books about “queer” or other minority groups were the targets. Modifications to the definition of a book ban also shifted. A ban no longer means that a book is not allowed on library shelves. Simply moving material from the one section to another can now qualify as a “ban.”

In Greenville, local and national activist groups – with the support of local churches – began aggressively opposing efforts to clarify library collection, display, and development policies. Activists packed board meetings, showing up with much drama and flair, trying to overwhelm and silence those on the other side of the issues.

Despite sometimes contentious opposition, the library board focused on voices from the local community. Reflecting these constituencies, the board successfully:

Established neutral materials display policies (2023)
Relocated mature and graphic content from children's sections (2023)
Moved youth material about changing gender to parenting sections (2024)
Passed a conservative budget with a 0.5 millage (7%) tax decrease (2025)
Maintained a $30 million surplus through fiscally conservative management (2024)

Lessons Learned

"Good governance trickles up, not down," said Collins. “We can’t look at the federal government and think all good things come down from there. Good governance begins at the lowest level, as engaged citizens help direct community, city, county, and state policy.”

Grassroots engagement can yield disproportionate results, either positively or negatively. Collins expressed the need for greater involvement from church and business leaders. She noted that the local library board plays a substantial role in advancing community values, yet business leaders—who fund this valuable resource through both business and personal taxes—rarely engage with its governance.

"People don't realize the scope of a library board's authority," Collins noted. "We manage substantial budgets, hire and evaluate a library director to oversee all county libraries, purchase property, acquire books and materials, and set governance policies. As we’ve seen in Greenville, these decisions don't just affect library operations—they directly inform community values and priorities."

Practical Steps for Civic Engagement

Business leaders who neglect the opportunity to engage with local governing bodies surrender an opportunity to have real influence. Instead of choosing to disengage, which simply strengthens voices on the other side of important issues, business leaders can take simple steps to faithfully engage:

Send a simple email to library board members and other local elected officials expressing concerns as a taxpayer on specific issues.
Build relationships and establish direct channels for communication and information sharing with the county library board, city council, county council and state legislators— those who are supposed to represent your interests as a business owner.
Understand and engage on policies that matter most to you. Connecting with groups like the South Carolina Christian Consortium and the Mom and Pop Alliance help boost support for regulatory decisions that promote business interests and benefit local and state economies.
Follow budget allocations, particularly related to where your tax dollars go, helping to ensure resource management translates to community and marketplace prosperity.

Public libraries significantly shape business environments in several ways: They influence societal norms that feed the talent pool, direct resource allocation for infrastructure, craft tax policies and regulatory frameworks that affect business costs, and establish policies that either promote or inhibit free market principles. When business leaders engage at the grassroots level it helps facilitate short- and long-term prosperity—for the marketplace and surrounding areas.

Business Leaders: It's Time to Engage

Local entities like libraries, schools, zoning boards, and regulatory commissions shape communities in ways that directly impact business success. By engaging with these institutions, business leaders can extend our influence and help build communities that support sustainable business growth.

The question for business leaders is not whether we can afford the time for civic engagement, but whether we can afford to surrender our voice in decisions that shape the business environment for all.

Sarabeth Stone is a wife, mother, and freelance writer residing in the Upstate. Her background centers around public affairs and communications work with Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit entities, and organizations from a variety of industries.

Located in the Upstate, The South Carolina Christian Consortium connects South Carolina’s small business community with likeminded leaders. We host monthly luncheons where experts from a variety of industries come to encourage, equip, and educate you as a business leader. Come rub elbows with state and local elected officials, business owners, University leaders, and more at our events.