Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) Board chairman John Wahl reiterated the board's resolve after voting last week to pause all funds to the Fairhope Public Library for allegedly not being aligned with the APLS's policy surrounding books.
During a nearly two-hour public comment portion on Thursday, several Fairhope residents presented evidence of sexually explicit or LGBTQ+-affirming targeted towards children.
After the speakers concluded, the board voted 5-1 to pause the library's funding until it complied with APLS policy.
The rule change occurred in May 2024, when the board approved Gov. Kay Ivey's proposed rule changes after Alabama residents petitioned the APLS Board to address the recent statewide controversy surrounding sexually explicit or inappropriate books in the children's section of public libraries.
In September 2023, Ivey sent a letter to APLS director Nancy Pack demanding answers about the sexually explicit books and APLS's connection with the American Library Association.
Ivey later responded by offering a series of policy recommendations, which were delayed during the public comment portion of the rules' deliberation.
Thursday's board move brought swift condemnation from those fighting to keep books others have deemed inappropriate for minors in libraries for the better part of two years.
One such group, Read Freely Alabama, began a fundraiser to help the library recoup its losses from the paused funding.
Despite the pushback, Wahl reiterated the board's commitment to enforcing APLS's rules and keeping sexually explicit books out of children's hands.
"The APLS Board has been very consistent in our commitment to safeguarding Alabama children from sexually explicit material," Wahl said. "We want to make it absolutely clear—non-compliance with APLS code is not an option. There are no gray areas, loopholes, or exceptions when it comes to keeping sexually explicit materials out of children's sections. These are common-sense requirements that prevent innocent children from accidentally stumbling across sexually explicit material without their parents' consent. Any library that refuses to move these books to the adult section will not receive state funding. Period."
He continued, "We are not censoring any books, and we are not banning any books. Our goal is simple; we want to put parents back in charge and allow them to decide what access their children have to potentially inappropriate materials. The new state code ensures that parents—not librarians or bureaucrats—have full authority over whether their child can or cannot check out books from the adult section."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
