The Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) executive board voted on Thursday to reinstate a policy allowing a competitive bid process for local libraries to receive federal grant funds, much to the chagrin of APLS director Nancy Pack.
In September, at Pack's request, the APLS Board changed how Federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants are provided to Alabama libraries. It had previously engaged in an individual grant process for local libraries to receive the LSTA funds through APLS. However, the board voted in September to adopt a more universal process, distributing the funds more evenly to all libraries.
The APLS board has been thrust into the limelight over the past year after statewide controversy arose surrounding sexually explicit books in Alabama's public libraries.
At the behest of lawmakers and Gov. Kay Ivey, the APLS passed a series of administrative rule changes, making state funding dependent on compliance with the procurement and placement of certain books, as well as rules for challenging and removing books deemed to be obscene or sexually explicit.
The library issue drew the ire of state lawmakers, who cut the APLS's funding by 9%, just over $350,000. The board itself has also undergone changes since the book controversy began. Ivey terminated then-board member Virginia Doyle after Doyle levied heavy criticism at Ivey and the Alabama Legislature. Amy Minton, who has proven favorable to removing minors' access to sexually explicit books, replaced Doyle shortly after that.
Alabama GOP chairman and APLS board member John Wahl was also elected as the board's chair in September.
The LSTA grants were changed in September after libraries were required to align their policies with the new APLS policies regarding books deemed inappropriate or sexually explicit.
Wahl suggested reverting back to the original LSTA grant process after hosting a Q&A with many Alabama library directors before Thursday's board meeting, who unanimously voted in favor of the competitive process. During the public comment period, library professionals and advocates agreed that the old method of distributing LSTA grants was preferable.
Wahl stated that a government body should not be afraid to reverse a previous decision after receiving alternative feedback from those working directly in the field.
"This is a classic reason why government is so inefficient," Wahl said. "Because they usually just do whatever they've decided and they don't have the – what's the right word – they don't have the courage or the creativity to say, 'We're going to change, and we are going to make sure that this is administrated properly.'"
Wahl also emphasized that libraries must comply with the APLS rules for challenging and removing books deemed obscene or sexually explicit to receive LSTA grants through APLS.
Pack, who has developed an increasingly more combative attitude towards the board since its members became more favorable to those opposing sexually explicit books in libraries and adopting the new policies, took an aggressive posture with Wahl and the board before the vote. Pack stated that reverting the grant process, especially after the budget cuts, would be deleterious for smaller libraries.
"Your priority, John, and I guess we can call for a vote; I don't know, maybe they have other questions. But, bottom line, your job is to make sure that libraries across Alabama flourish," Pack said. "With these grants that my staff have proposed, every library in the state of Alabama will flourish. Should you decide to go with the individual grants, you're picking individual communities and making a choice. You're saying, 'Oh. This community is better than this community; we're going to give it to them.'
"This is the one year, and I've been here 10 years, and this is the first year I have asked that this board consider statewide grants so every library can receive a portion of federal dollars."
Wahl and others expressed a desire to ensure that smaller libraries that do not qualify for LSTA grants receive needed help but not at the expense of those libraries that have already submitted applications. The vote ultimately passed with no votes against and one abstention. After the vote, audible cheering could be heard from the overflow room where multiple library directors were viewing the meeting.
"I am proud of the board's vote to reinstate LSTA grants for individual libraries," Wahl told 1819 News. "I have been talking to many libraries across the state about how the LSTA grant change would severely affect their ability to serve their local communities. This change would have especially affected rural and smaller libraries that already struggle to make ends meet. These are the libraries that are doing a great job but often get overlooked.
Wahl continued, "In general, I believe returning funding as close as you can to the taxpayer is the best model for government. A one-size-fits-all approach never works as well as a customized program. Today's decision makes government a little smaller and moves money a little more towards the people where it belongs."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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