ATHENS — Wednesday’s Athens-Limestone County Public Library (ALCPS) Board of Trustees meeting started calmly, erupted into controversy and ended on a note of completion.
Board of Trustees chairman Craig Anderson moved public comments to the end of old and new library business, stating that he wanted to ensure ample time for discussion on the 56-page revised policies and guidance document.
The revised documents are part of the ALCPS trustees' efforts to align library policies with the new state rules created to address the handling and placement of sexually explicit children's books. As 1819 News reported, the trustees approved the draft revised document at the July board meeting. The additional controversy over the lack of clarity on decision-making authority and term limits for board members still hangs in the balance.
Athens city attorney Shane Black presented a redlined version of the policies and guidance documents, outlining changes to conform language to state and federal guidelines.
One county parent raised the issue of minor-aged babysitters or tutors utilizing the library with their charges. Alabama law recognizes a person as an adult who is 19 or older, so the policy changes presented now conform to Alabama law. A decision was made to create language to address this that could be incorporated into the documents. The motion was raised and approved, and library director April Wise was tasked with the assignment.
Anderson then opened the meeting to public comments. As a precaution, two Athens Police Department officers were present in the room, as past meetings had been contentious.
Pastor Carey Cobb was first to comment.
“The way you started banning a book is a process, and you start by challenging books. And I've seen things here which I think are challenging books,” he said.
Cobb brought up Alabama House Bill 385, which criminalizes librarians distributing content harmful to minors, and asked who would represent these librarians should the bill become law.
“We have greater problems in Alabama than libraries,” he said. “There's so many things out here that need to be done. We have one of the highest food insecurities of children in the nation, and we're out here trying to ban books?! What's up?”
Carissa, a Limestone County resident, expressed support for the revised guidelines and measures.
“I have never stood here and represented anyone or any group other than myself,” she said. “I have never asked for a book to be banned. I do not believe in book banning. In fact, I haven't heard of anyone here who has asked for a book to be banned. The only time it's brought up is by people who rant and rave against it.”
A commenter named Rachel thanked the Board for doing the right thing and asked about the strict library card designations, which could present issues in the future.
“This whole situation, and why we're all here today, is you play stupid games, you win stupid prizes,” Rachel said. “We're running into all these other different issues because some people want to put sexualized books in the hands of minors. And we wouldn't be here today if y’all just wouldn’t do that in the first place.”
Things escalated quickly when a commenter named Janice said, "The book bans have been driven mostly by far-right group Moms for Liberty under the guise of protecting children. Book bans are not new. They have been occurring throughout history.”
“My question is, why are you letting this discussion?” she continued. “Because [parents] are in charge of your children's literacy.”
A critical commenter made an example of a resident wearing a red baseball cap that read, “Make Libraries Great Again.”
“I’ve been here several times,” the commenter stated. “Yeah, I read children's books. And I'm going to say, police officers, board, library staff, I support all of you guys, our school teachers, and I know this is above you. But I'm going to keep showing up while Moms for Liberty shows up.”
The red-hatted commenter shot back, “I’m only representing myself!”
The critical commenter asked Anderson for her time back from the interruption, but the red-hatted commenter continued, saying, “Don't point fingers and call me out. Don’t tell lies.”
The critical commenter continued, appearing to direct her commentary to the person in the red hat as she lodged accusations.
“But anyhow, the reason why I am speaking so loud is against Moms for Liberty. The reason why I’m here today, the reason why we're all here today, wasting time that we could be putting into other efforts, is because Moms for Liberty across this country is assaulting our schools and our libraries. And it's not about porn,” she alleged.
“It's about hate,” she added. “Do not be fooled.”
The critical commenter continued her rant, saying Moms for Liberty is “anti-African-American.”
The red-hatted commenter angrily interrupted.
"I have three African-American children,” she said. “Do not say things like that to us!
The critical commenter continued her tirade as the red-hatted commenter interrupted her, yelling, “You are so ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous; you can't just sit here and accuse us of things that we are clearly not doing.”
The critical commenter concluded her speech by saying, “They want control over your choices, your choices, and over your daughters; that’s what they want. That's what they want.”
The red-hatted commenter yelled, “Enough!”
The room erupted in applause, and the red-hatted commenter addressed the critical commenter directly.
“We don’t do any of that, and you know it. We're done with all of your gaslighting,” she said, and then she addressed the Board as she prepared to leave.
“Thank you, Board, for supporting us and doing the right thing and getting these disgusting sexual books out of the hands of minors. Thank you, we appreciate it,” she stated.
Chairman Anderson expressed discomfort with the “back and forth.”
“It's not something where everybody's going to come together and agree on this,” Anderson opined. “We're just not there, guys. Again, we're doing the best we can with what we have within the strictures of the law. So, if there's any way to keep it a bit more calm moving forward, I would certainly appreciate that.”
Anderson closed the public comments, and library director April Wise gave concluding reports on library programs.
The Alabama Public Library Service requires the updated policies to be submitted to them by September 1.
Jennifer Oliver O'Connell, As the Girl Turns, is an investigative journalist, author, opinion analyst, and contributor to 1819 News, Redstate, and other publications. Jennifer writes on Politics and Pop Culture, with occasional detours into Reinvention, Yoga, and Food. You can read more about Jennifer's world at her As the Girl Turns website. You can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Telegram.
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