SPANISH FORT — The Spanish Fort Public Library (SFPL) Board, comprised of city council members, unanimously approved an amended policy Monday to ensure juveniles are protected from sexually explicit materials in the library.
The policy includes guidelines on the selection process, the deselection process, maintaining the collection and book challenges.
"A balanced collection reflects a diversity of materials, not an equality of numbers," the policy states. "Materials are chosen representing different points of view, subject to our selection criteria, applicable policies, budget, and space available in our facilities. The Board of Directors will uphold the principle that censorship is largely an individual matter and anyone is free to reject for oneself books which do not meet with the individual's approval. Determinations of age-appropriateness and safeguards for minors do not constitute censorship, and the Board of Directors will fully comply with SFPL Polices."
Selection of materials is the responsibility of the library staff and the library director and may be reviewed by the library board.
City attorney David Conner went through the policy and explained what each section meant.
"At its most basic level, we want to make sure that everything we do is respectful," said Conner. "We want to make sure that it's the best we can. We're trying to take into account the interests of all persons involved, to be graceful, merciful, respectful – all the things that each of us living in this community would hope we all strive to."
He used the book "Let's Talk about It: The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human" as an example of why the policy changes are necessary. The book that explains "kinks, fantasies" and encourages children to watch porn was discovered in the young adult section of the library last December by concerned parents.
The young adult section of the library was previously for ages 14-18. That is being changed to ages 18-25.
The book will now be available in the adult section.
"There are topics in this book that are definitely appropriate for discussion or learning, for gathering, but there's a significant portion of this book that many, many people, I think, if they looked at it, would feel like they crossed the line in the pictures that it depicts, the activities that it depicts," Conner explained. "In some places, it appears to encourage children if they had questions to look to pornography. There's just a lot of questionable material in here, but again, there are parts of the book that may be helpful."
Conner said the book was so graphic that it was inappropriate for the board to present on the screen at the public meeting.
The new policies require any "sexually explicit" material to be removed from the children's department. Those that constitute "sexually explicit" include describing a sex act, sexual abuse, sexual assault and consent, nudity, sexual content in images, graphics or illustrations.
Books about anorexia, bulimia, gender identity, LGBTQ, rape, self-harm and sex will be relocated to shelves for those 18 and up.
Materials about human sexuality will require parental approval. Other topics requiring parental guidance must be separated from the selection but may remain in the children's department.
The new policy states the library does not encourage or discourage any particular viewpoint.
Before the new policy was unanimously approved, several citizens opposing the changes addressed the board, including Read Freely Alabama co-founder Angie Hayden, of Prattville. She said "Let's Talk about It" has been "brought out to kind of horrify people" and give "an excuse to pull other books or relocate other books."
She said relocating books is censorship.
Hayden used the 1958 book "The Rabbits' Wedding," about a black rabbit marrying a white rabbit, as an example of a book that has been opposed due to "basically indoctrinating" children.
"They demanded that it be pulled, and they used Bible verses to back up their arguments," she said of those who opposed the book. "Dare say that in many towns, that was probably the prevailing thought. However, we know now, looking back, that you can't pull a book from the children's section because you feel that it encourages interracial marriage."
"That would be a violation of someone's constitutional rights," Hayden continued. "And so, I guess, as I look at your policies, that say that books that mention identity such as a book about a little girl with two daddies and you say that it is to be segregated to the adult section as if it's inappropriate, which is not by any state code or the APLS code, what makes you different from the people who demanded that this book about the rabbits being moved to the adult section?"
Read Freely is one of the plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit against the Prattville Library Board. Hayden said the policies are unconstitutional.
Elizabeth Dunn, of Mobile, said that as the mother of a gay child, she believes in the importance of LGBTQ literature and that the new policies target that community. She cited case law and said targeting LGBTQ books can be "costly."
"This is a reminder that there are more consequences than just public perception; there are financial consequences as well," she said.
Moms for Liberty Baldwin County founder Rebecca Watson has visited the library on numerous occasions and addressed concerns with the board and library director. After the meeting on Monday, she told 1819 News that she's thankful the board is taking a "thoughtful, balanced" approach to its policies.
"In a time when there are strong opinions on both ends of the spectrum, they managed to find a middle ground that respects community standards and serves the needs of everyone," said Watson. "They listened to every speaker with respect, explained the policies clearly and created guidelines that reflect the diverse perspectives in Spanish Fort. It's encouraging to see the Spanish Fort Library take a levelheaded, inclusive stance—and I think other libraries in Baldwin County can look to this as a model moving forward."
The policy will be evaluated by board members and is considered "a living document."
Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) chairman John Wahl said he is pleased with the effort by the SFPL.
"I am very pleased with their new policies," said Wahl. "They are doing a great job representing their community."
APLS member Amy Minton told 1819 News that the policies were common-sense and meant to protect children.
"As a member of the APLS Board, I am very proud of the Spanish Fort library director and staff, the Spanish Fort mayor and city council for their decisive leadership and commitment to protecting the children of Alabama by passing common sense policies to move all sexually explicit and books inappropriate for children to the adult section of the library," said Minton. "Their policies put the parents in charge of when and if they want their children to be exposed to these topics. I encourage all the citizens of the Baldwin County area to thank these individuals for their leadership and hard work."
The library offers juvenile library cards, which allow children to check out books from all sections of the library if their parent or guardian allows them.
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 or become a member to gain access to exclusive content and 1819 News merch.
