According to recently obtained audio recordings, Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) director Nancy Pack openly criticized the Alabama Legislature and Gov. Kay Ivey over actions taken to deal with citizens’ concerns over sexually explicit or obscene material aimed at minors in public libraries.
The audio was obtained from multiple sources. One source claims it comes from a 2023 meeting where Pack spoke to Alabama library directors. Pack was joined by Matthew Layne of the Alabama Library Association (ALLA), the state chapter of the American Library Association. Both have repeatedly spoken out against those opposed to the inclusion of books thought to be sexually explicit or obscene.
SEE: State library system votes to withdraw from American Library Association
For over a year, the APLS has been thrust into the center of the debate that began once residents began reporting sexually explicit books in sections meant for children and minors.
In response, Ivey, lawmakers and APLS board members began tackling the issue through legislative, administrative and executive actions. Those supporting the removal or relocation of the books have consistently complained to the board that Pack was sympathetic to the opposing side and actively worked to undermine the board’s efforts to address citizens’ concerns. This led to some groups calling for her termination or resignation.
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In addition to replacing several members, The APLS also elected Alabama GOP chairman and APLS board member John Wahl as the chairman. It also adopted a comprehensive set of administrative rules libraries must adopt to continue receiving state funding. The rules deal with the procurement, placement and removal of books deemed obscene or sexually explicit.
The audio recording was taken from an APLS meeting in Montgomery, where Pack and others addressed the drama and its impact on libraries.
Several attendees implied during the event that Pack was opposed to the APLS's direction, and was compelled to enforce rules despite her personal aversion.
“I know, obviously, personally, you are on our side, but officially, as an agency, are your hands tied as far as being on our side when we’re faced with these challenges?” one attendee asked.
Pack responded with a chuckle, followed by her stating, “That’s a great question. You put me on the spot. Let’s go ahead and do the next question.”
And another attendee observed that it “hurt” Pack to enforce the APLS’s rules.
“In doing these things that they’ve asked you to do, and we know that that hurt you to do these things, is it your hope that they will be satisfied and kind of drop it?” she asked.
Pack responded by telling the crowd to contact their legislators. She also offered what she believes to be possibilities the legislature or Ivey might do to put strictures on the APLS.
“Right now, it’s a hot topic,” Pack said. “If we got into World War III, I don’t know if it’d be the hot topic. If the state government shuts down, I don’t know, that’s going to be a hot topic.”
Pack suggested that Ivey move libraries to a different sector of the executive branch or that the legislature remove state funding altogether.
“If the governor is mad at us enough, she could put us into another department,” Pack said. “We would no longer have the APLS as an independent department with its own board. She could put us under the secretary of state or move us into the Education Department. I don’t think she’s going to go that way.”
She continued, “But the governor over here is not so bad as the state legislators, but she had a bill up to give, I think, $500 to every family for tax refunds, and the legislators cut that down to everyone who turned in taxes, that had the tax law in Alabama would get $100. If you were married, you got $200; your spouse got $100. So, the legislators over here have a lot of power even though the governor is giving money away. In our state, you can’t override what the legislature says.”
After opining on the perceived native effects losing state funding would have on federal grants, Pack began opining on how lawmakers were “not very intelligent” on library issues.
“The legislature doesn’t know anything about how we work, and how we get our funding and what we do,” Pack continued. “I mean, they are not very intelligent about libraries or APLS’s role. And until the other day, I don’t think we had had any legislators in here, and now we’ve had 12 in the building.”
Editors note: A previous version of the story included an incorrect date for the audio recording. The updated version contains the corrected date.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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