SAVANNAH, Ga. () — Local libraries said they are fighting to protect banned books and the community’s freedom of expression.

Live Oak Public Libraries have been declared by the Regional Board of Trustees as book sanctuaries. This allows the library to serve the community based on their specific demographic.

“We are a library that not only makes them physically safe, but emotionally safe,” Live Oak Libraries Executive Director, Lola DeWitt said. “They know that they’ll be able to come in and find materials that not only show their lived experience, but they can also come in and find out a lived experience of someone else.”

The process of becoming a book sanctuary was an easy decision, the Live Oak staff told . They said they used their personal stories as a point during the application process.

Many of the people who work in the library and patrons were not allowed inside when they were younger, due to segregation staff said.

DeWitt told that fighting against censorship is not something that is new to the library. However, becoming a book sanctuary is new, but nothing will change as they continue to fight for what they believe is right.

“All these documents don’t do anything as far as our policies. They’re just things that make us more powerful,” DeWitt Said. “When we say we’re standing against censorship, we’re going to make sure that our collections represent everybody in the community.”