As fight continues over book complaints at Alabama library, board reinstates grant program

The executive board of the Alabama Public Library Service on Thursday heard complaints from several parents about books they consider inappropriate for children, part of an ongoing public debate about how libraries should control access to books with sexual and LGBT themes.

The Alabama Legislature and APLS Council have demanded local libraries update their policies, which they say are an attempt to protect young readers from sexually explicit material, or risk losing state funding.

Some who spoke during public comment at Thursday’s meeting said they believe some libraries are not complying with the new policy.

APLS Board Chairman John Wahl said parents should first raise their concerns with local library boards and contact the APLS board if they believe the library is not following the new rules.

Additionally, with the support of local library directors, the APLS Board reversed its earlier decision and reinstated the federal grant program for local libraries.

In September, the board voted in favor of a statewide plan to allocate services from federal funds instead of competitive Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants, which have been an annual program for years.

Thursday’s meeting drew a standing-room-only crowd to the meeting room, with others watching remotely from an additional room.

Wahl, who is chairman of the Alabama Republican Party and represents the 5th Congressional District on the APLS Council, served as chairman for the first time at Thursday’s meeting.

Before Thursday morning’s board meeting, Wahl met with local library directors for questions and answers.

“I think the board as a whole and the directors of our local libraries need to have a good working relationship, and I think the best way to do that is through open communication, transparency and providing an opportunity to talk to me as chair and share their concerns, ideas or whatever.” how things will impact them,” Wahl said.

Dozens of directors attended the session, while others participated remotely. When Wahl asked for a show of hands about reinstating LSTA grants. support was almost unanimous.

Later at the board meeting, Gadsden Public Library Director Craig Scott, who is president of the Alabama Library Association, called on the board to reinstate the grants.

“More than 100 library directors are looking forward to your review today,” Scott told the board. “LSTA funding is a vital resource that empowers libraries across Alabama to offer transformative programs, services and resources to their communities.”

Jessica Ross, director of the Washington County Public Library, said LSTA grants have helped fund a career readiness and small business development center and a satellite community college campus.

“Our library may be small and rural, but it is thriving and dynamic and serves as an anchor institution and community center for our county,” Ross said.

APLS Director Nancy Pack urged the board to stick with its decision in September to use federal funds to distribute services under the state plan rather than LSTA grants. Park said he would better serve all libraries, including small ones that cannot compete effectively for grants.

Wahl supported reinstating the grants after hearing the concerns of local directors. The board voted to reinstate.

“At the end of the day, we agreed with them that the best policy is to ensure that these libraries have the resources they need directly through the subgrant program,” Wahl said.

Earlier this year, the APLS Council approved a new legislative code requiring libraries to move “inappropriate” materials for children, require library cards specifically for minors, and make other changes.

The APLS director said about 132 of about 210 public libraries have successfully updated their policies.

She said 36 companies have not submitted their new policies and 42 have submitted new policies but still need to make changes.

During public comment, Mobile’s Melissa Gates showed the board a book called “It’s Completely Normal: Changing Your Body, Growing Up, Sex and Sexual Health.”

The illustrations include images of sexual intercourse, including images of gays and lesbians. Gates said the book had been checked out of the Moorer/Spring Hill branch library and was on a shelf within reach of a small child.

“Sorry, but I don’t want to explain this to my four-year-old if he’s just going to say, ‘Oh, look at the colors in this book.’ I like it. I’m going to grab him. And I’m going to review it,” Gates said. “This shouldn’t happen.”

Gates said she asked the library to move the book, but that did not happen.

“They said the book had been in the library for 15 years and had been checked out many times,” Gates said.

Rebecca Watson of Baldwin County showed the board the book “Parts and Hearts: A Kids (and Adults) Guide to Transgender Transition.” Watson said the book is in the children’s section of the Fairhope Public Library for children ages 3 to 12.

Watson said her request to move the book from the juvenile section was denied by the library director because the book was classified as educational or instructional.

She said the Fairhope Library board supported the director’s decision.

Read more: Library War in Fairhope: Group Calls for Board Chairman’s Resignation

APLS District 3 board member Amy Minton said Pieces and Hearts should not be classified as educational and noted that the Alabama Legislature passed a law banning the use of hormones, puberty blockers and surgery as transgender therapy for minors.

Watson, chairwoman of the Baldwin County chapter of Moms for Freedom, said she wanted to know if the Fairhope Library was following book placement rules.

“I personally am not trying to distort or manipulate anything,” Watson said.

“I just want to make sure that all libraries are following the law. Whatever the law is, I want to make sure they follow it. And our public library is not up to par.”

Amber Frey of Prattville, executive administrator of Read Freely Alabama, said “Parts and Hearts” is an important book for transgender children and their families.

“There are transgender kids, whether people like it or not,” Frey said.

“They are there. And to have a book that shows people like them and shows them how they can be themselves is very important because they are the biggest target right now.”

Read Freely Alabama’s mission is to advocate for libraries and librarians, Frey said.

“We’re here to protect the freedom to read whatever you want,” Frey said.

“The library is a place where everyone should be visible. And it shouldn’t be a partisan political issue, because libraries are apolitical. Reed Freeley Alabama is apolitical. And there are people across the political spectrum who support Read Free Alabama and agree that the government should not interfere with what the public library offers its patrons.”

As for the sex education book Gates showed on the board, It’s Totally Normal, Frey said it was not a book parents should give their child to read, but one they would read with them.

“I don’t think it should be placed with books for young children, no,” Frey said. “I think it’s appropriate in the juvenile department, which typically occupies the higher shelves. If it’s on a low shelf, it might be worth moving it up. I don’t think this will be a problem.

“But librarians know more about this than I do.” I trust librarians to preserve books more than I trust myself or anyone who challenges books.”

Wahl said the APLS Board is committed to protecting children.

“Local libraries, in order to receive government funding, will be required to remove any sexually explicit materials from their libraries,” Wahl said.

“Once this is fully implemented, if parents are still finding this material in libraries, they should contact their local library boards, make sure they are aware of it, and give them the opportunity to remove it. If they refuse to remove it, then they should contact the APLS Board and we will make sure state policy is followed.”