The first library in the Gwinnett County region was the Norcross library, established in 1907 by the Norcross Woman's Club. Following this, in 1935, the Lawrenceville PTA began the Lawrenceville Public Library in City Hall, which was renamed to the Gwinnett County Library the following year. In 1956, in an effort to consolidate resources with nearby Forsyth County, the two library systems agreed to form a joint venture named the Gwinnett-Forsyth Regional Library. During this time Gwinnett County opened the Lake Lanier Regional Library in Buford, and libraries in Snellville and Mountain Park.
Censorship controversy In 1997, Gwinnett County Public Library removed
Nancy Friday's bestseller
Women On Top from its collection after two patrons complained about its sexual content. Connie Cosby, one of the patrons, had requested that the book be made unavailable to children, and was "stunned" but "ecstatic" that library director Jo Ann Pinder removed it entirely.
Women On Top became the fourth book Gwinnett County Public Library had removed from its shelves because of complaints about content. The library's decision prompted many residents to write letters opposing and supporting the library's decision; one such letter from Sheila Blahnik, the other patron who had asked the library to remove
Women On Top, called the reaction an "onslaught of media attention". Area booksellers reported increased sales of the book soon after the library removed it; a
Waldenbooks manager said, "In two months the bookstore sold one copy, and all of a sudden last week we sold eight." One county resident called for Pinder and another librarian to be fired for describing the reasons for the book's removal as "editing errors and changes in library purchasing guidelines" rather than stating that it was
censored because of its sexual content; other residents began shouting questions which the board did not answer, and the police were summoned. As a result of the controversy, Gwinnett County Public Library created a "parental advisory" category for books deemed suitable only for adults, allowing parents to give consent for their minor children to check those items out. The library also created an advisory board to review the process for handling residents' complaints about library materials, and on the advice of county lawyers the library later opened those meetings to the public. Ultimately, the library made it easier to request removing books from the library, on the advice of the advisory board, because the old form had been "too complicated". The current Collection Development Policy (updated 2023) has eliminated restricted item sections or categories, and instead encourages customers to make their own decisions on which materials to check out. In line with current
American Library Association guidelines on censorship, the Gwinnett County Public Library's policy affirms the right to access materials and declares the system's adherence to the American Library Association's Freedom to Read, Freedom to View, and
Library Bill of Rights. A materials reconsideration request form is available for customers who wish to challenge materials held by the library. Per the Collection Development Policy, requests for reconsideration are reviewed by the Director of Customer Experience, the Technical Services Manager, and a minimum of two degreed, professional customer service staff members. Materials are evaluated using the library's mission statement and the guidelines laid out in the Collection Development Policy. Decisions made regarded challenged works are final and any subsequent requests are subject to the standing decision. ==Branches==