Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl promised to keep the state’s libraries safe places for children after he was elected as chairman of the Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) Board of Directors Thursday.
“I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity to serve as chairman of this Board,” Wahl said in an interview with Yellowhammer News on Thursday. “I have always been a strong supporter of libraries. I love to encourage reading and what libraries do for our local communities. I want to thank my fellow board members for the trust they put in me, and I look forward to working with them as we work to make Alabama libraries better for the people of Alabama.”
Wahl is the APLS District 5 board member and has been at the forefront of recent changes to the library service. Earlier this year, APLS approved an amended list of proposed administrative rule changes put forward by Governor Kay Ivey. The changes addressed the issue of sexually-explicit books being placed in the children’s sections of libraries in the state.
“The first priority is making sure that we listen to the people of Alabama and that we make sure children’s sections continue to be a safe place in Alabama and parents don’t have to worry about leaving their children in a library,” Wahl said on the issue. “I also really want to highlight reading initiatives. I want to encourage a love of learning. I want to encourage children to read again.”
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Wahl was voted into the position despite the outgoing chairman Ron Snider’s recommendation for board member Angelia Stokes to take his place during the meeting.
The ALGOP Chair said he will continue to listen to his constituents and make the changes needed to keep Alabama libraries safe places for children.
“Libraries have been the epicenter of a lot of controversy about public policy regarding children and some of the sexually explicit material that has been found in library sections,” he explained, “and that led to an effort from parents, a kind of an outcry from parents across the state of Alabama, who, when they were finding these materials in children’s sections, asked the board for redress agreements, asking them to get involved and to be part of cleaning up the library process. And it’s been a work in progress ever since, and I think it’s important for any board that you dive into it and listen to your constituents.”
Wahl will serve as chairman and Jerria Martin will serve as vice chair.
“But I think something we can all agree on,” Wahl added, “is that we want to move forward as a state with the best interest not just of our libraries, but most importantly, with the customers of those libraries being represented, and that’s going to be the direction of the board moving forward. It’s going to be listening to the public, listening to the parents, and making sure that their voices are heard on a state level.”
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee
