The Prattville-Autauga Library board of trustees voted Sunday on a replacement library director and rule changes for public participation in board meetings as debate continues over the LGBTQ+ books for minors in its library.
The Prattville-Autauga Public Library has become the subject of local attention in recent months due to the inclusion of several LGBTQ+-friendly children and teen books.
See: Prattville mothers fighting to remove LGBTQ+ books from children's section of local library.
The growing number of concerned individuals has gathered from the library over 80 books for minors on gender, sex, sexual orientation pronouns and other LGBTQ issues, such as detailing same-sex love stories.
Opponents of the books' inclusion have made continued appeals to the Library board, the county commission and Prattville City Council.
Recently, the Library director, Lindsey Milam, resigned from her position. It is still unclear what Milam's reasons were for leaving, and those opposed to the books' inclusion have asked for a copy of the resignation letter via a public records request.
The Board voted at a special meeting on Sunday to officially accept Milam's resignation and to appoint her replacement. The Board approved the current youth services system librarian in Montgomery, Andrew Foster.
Additionally, the board voted on a series of rule changes for how the public may participate in attending board meetings in the future.
"We need to look at a policy for public participation in library board meetings," said Chairwoman Susan Poteat. "Some of you have been on the board for a while, we've never had public participation in library board meetings, and we realized at the last meeting that we need a policy to define how that would happen."
While the board did not make the rule changes official at the meeting due to some last-minute editing, the policy changes would require those speaking at board meetings to be Autauga County or Prattville residents. The changed policy would also require prior notice via email for placement on the board's agenda. The board also touted a rule requiring comments to be made in "good taste" and prohibiting remarks about specific board members.
While there was no public comment during the meeting, opponents and supporters of the books attended the meeting.
Opponents shared copies of a dispatch from the American Library Association (ALA) detailing how a "small town librarian" can "sneakily" push for more LGBTQ+ material in "small, rural, conservative" communities.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
