EDITOR'S NOTE: This article has been updated
Alabama Public Library System (APLS) director Nancy Pack boasted on Thursday about contacting Millbrook and Madison libraries regarding Brave Books events, one of which has been canceled, while the other was announced on Friday as back on.
At a Thursday meeting of the Autauga County Library Board of Trustees, Pack addressed the board, as the Prattville-Autauga Public Library has become the nucleus of statewide controversy surrounding sexually explicit books for minors.
For months, concerned parents have appealed to the city council, county commission and library board to address the presence of “pornographic” and “obscene” books made available for minors.
The group in the Autauga County area had scheduled a Brave Books “See You at the Library” event for Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Millbrook Public Library after the Prattville library denied their request. Attendees of the event were slated to read “A Town Worth Defending” from Brave Books, and children would do crafts in the form of writing thank you cards to local firefighters and police.
A similar Moms for Liberty event featuring Kirk Cameron and Riley Gaines at the Madison Public Library was canceled by library officials due to alleged capacity issues. Brave Books is Cameron's publisher.
At Thursday’s meeting, both opponents and supporters of the books’ inclusion attended the Autauga library board meeting to speak.
Pack was also one of the speakers, reportedly asked to attend the meeting by the board.
1819 News had heard reports the Pack had boasted about calling the Madison library at the meeting. When asked by 1819 News if she had, in fact, contacted the Madison library, Pack twice denied having done so.
“No, it was not Madison,” Pack told 1819 News. “But I hear Kirk Cameron is coming to Madison in person, and they had to move it because they’re expecting 300 folks.”
When asked a second time, Pack emphatically responded, “No, sir.”
However, a video has since emerged that shows Pack claiming to have personally called the Madison library regarding the event. Although, the content of that conversation is not clear. In the same video, Pack also claimed to have reached out to the Millbrook library. In the video, she is also seen lambasting opponents of the books, and defending the American Library Association (ALA). The group has criticized and called for the state to remove all affiliations with the ALA.
The video below was taken by an attendee:
Pack returned an inquiry from 1819 News about the contradiction, asking first, “Isn’t it illegal to video someone without them knowing?”
The library board meeting is open to the public and filming is allowed.
Pack confirmed that she did call the Millbrook library but continued to deny calling the Madison library.
“I was nervous,” Pack said. "Those people made me nervous. I had never seen so many vicious people in my life. So, I don’t know what I said, but no, I did not call Madison. I may have said Madison when I meant Millbrook, but I did not call Madison."
“If the director calls a library to check on them, that’s what I do. I don’t advise them one way or another," she added.
During the conversation, Pack reiterated that the Millbrook librarian was not aware of the event, while Cindy Hewitt, the Madison library director, was aware of the event at her library.
When pressed on how Pack could be aware of what Hewitt knew if she had not called her, Pack said she assumed Hewitt knew based on 1819 News’ reporting on the issue.
Hannah Rees, one of the organizers for the Millbrook event, said she had received multiple assurances of the event from one of the librarians but received no written confirmations from the head librarian, Linda Moore. The event has been advertised on social media for weeks. Rees was informed that the Millbrook event had been canceled on Friday morning.
When contacted by 1819 News, Moore said it wasn’t “a good time to talk” because she was “really tied up.”
According to Rees, Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie has since stepped in and allowed the group to meet on city property at the Prattville Grove.
APLS is a state agency with board members appointed by the governor. The board is responsible for selecting the director.
Pack had previously told 1819 News the purpose of the APLS is to certify libraries and create a statewide library network. The APLS is also responsible for distributing federal and state funds to libraries.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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