The Alabama Public Library Service Board voted last week to withhold approximately $42,000 in state funding from the Fairhope Public Library, escalating tensions in the state’s growing conflict over library content and youth access to certain materials.
The decision stems from the board’s determination that the Fairhope library failed to comply with new administrative rules requiring the relocation of “sexually explicit or otherwise inappropriate” materials out of children and teen sections. Specifically, concerns were raised over two books — “Grown” by Tiffany D. Jackson and “Sold” by Patricia McCormick — both of which explore themes of sexual exploitation and trafficking of minors. The titles remain in the library’s teen section, which prompted complaints from conservative parent groups and scrutiny from the state board.
Board Chair John Wahl, who also chairs the Alabama Republican Party, defended the move, stating that the issue was not about banning books but about enforcing clear policies intended to protect minors.
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In response to the defunding, the local advocacy group Read Freely Alabama launched a fundraiser to help offset the budget gap. The group characterized the state’s action as a political overreach that disregards the views of Fairhope residents who support the library’s content decisions. By Friday, the fundraiser had brought in $8,000.
The Fairhope case is the first enforcement action under Alabama’s revised administrative code for libraries, which took effect in 2024. The broader debate mirrors national trends, with challenges to books—especially those featuring sexual or LGBTQ+ content—surging across the country in recent years.
The board also used the same meeting to remove Nancy Pack, the longtime executive director of the Alabama Public Library Service, who had planned to resign later this year. Her early dismissal reflects deeper divisions within the board, particularly around the implementation of the new library regulations.
As the debate continues, supporters of the Fairhope Library argue that the state’s actions undermine intellectual freedom and local decision-making. At the same time, critics maintain that stronger oversight is necessary to protect children.
Sherri Blevins is a writer for Mountain Valley News and a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
