State funding for the Fairhope Public Library remains in limbo following the Alabama Public Library Service's (APLS) decision to pause funding earlier this year.
APLS chairman John Wahl said the board members are reviewing the 12 challenged books the library decided to keep in the teen section.
"I already have a list of those books. I already have some of them on the way and we will definitely be doing our due diligence as we look into every book and the information they provided," Wahl said.
The Fairhope Public Library board of trustees chairman, Randal Wright, said earlier this week that she did not believe the APLS Board would actually read the books. However, Wahl said the purpose of delaying the vote at the APLS board's last regular meeting was to ensure members did their due diligence.
"We're taking it very seriously," he said. "We're going to be reading the content in these books before making a final decision."
A vote is expected to take place in November. Wahl said all libraries receiving state funding should know and follow the guidelines.
"I want to make it very clear there are no loopholes or no gray areas," said Wahl. "If a library intentionally disobeys state code they will be defunded."
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