Alabama legislators want $6.6 million in library funding tied to book relocations

Alabama legislators are pushing to make librarians move “inappropriate” books for children in order to get millions of dollars in funding.

That funding is contingent on a code change that hasn’t happened yet. A public comment period is still open for multiple rules that would impact how libraries handle content dealing with sex, gender and LGBTQ issues.

For public libraries to receive $6.6 million in funding for fiscal year 2025, “a public library must be in compliance with the Governor’s proposed amendments” to the Alabama Public Library Service code, which includes moving books deemed “inappropriate” for children and teenagers.

The budget passed the House Ways and Means Education Committee on Wednesday and will be on the floor of the House before the public comment period ends.

“We believe these are good recommendations,” said Rep. Danny Garrett, (R-Jefferson County) House Ways and Means Education Committee chair.

He told AL.com that the changes reflect legislators’ conversations over the last year. The budget amendment comes after months of upheaval among communities statewide regarding sexual and LGBTQ+ books primarily geared toward young adults.

“These are not book banning restrictions,” Garrett said. “It’s a very deliberative process. This is the overwhelming thinking of the legislature.”

Garrett said legislators have limited time to make decisions because the legislature only meets for 30 out of the 105 days in session. He said this month’s public comment period “would be considered for the next budget cycle.”

The budget amendment is the third legislative action taken regarding libraries in the last week. Two bills were filed last week to make public school, university, and public librarians liable for “obscene” content checked out by minors and to prohibit libraries from joining the American Library Association.

The proposed library code amendments include the following:

“In order to receive state aid, a library board must approve written policies for the public library which cover the following: Physical location (and relocation of sexually explicit or other material deemed inappropriate for children or youth. Advance approval of materials recommended, displayed, or otherwise actively promoted to children or youth.”
“Exercising discretion in the location of sexually explicit material or other material deemed by the public library board to be inappropriate for children or youth does not constitute a denial of service on the basis of age. Taking age into account when recommending, displaying, or otherwise actively promoting library materials does not constitute a denial of service on the basis of age.”
“Any expenditure of public funds to the American Library Association must be approved by the governing board of the public library or public library system in an open, public meeting following advance public notice.”

In a statement, anti-censorship group Read Freely Alabama called the amendment “a direct and intentional subversion of the established legal process with the goal to suppress the voices of Alabamians they disagree with.”

“This move will not only further target library professionals, but punish citizens for daring to exercise their right to participate in the established process for changes to the codes by which their public libraries operate,” the group said. Their biggest concern is how this “unethical tampering” will affect libraries in economically disadvantaged or rural areas.

The group wrote to the Alabama Finances and Budget Committee in February with concerns about Rep. Susan DuBose (R-Shelby County), who told the library service board in recent meetings that they must adopt the code changes before the legislature adjourns.

DuBose told AL.com she saw the budget amendment but did not request it. “I had nothing to do with that,” she said. “I’m aware that it is there.”

Stephanie Williams, who challenged several books at the Foley Library, said in an email the proposed change “is a good start in this highly incendiary debate.”

“I remain saddened that it is even necessary to codify common sense protections of minors from sexual predation, but here we are in 2024 Alabama.”

The public comment period ends at 4:30 p.m. on April 29, and the public library service hearing is at 10 a.m. on April 30.

Comments about the proposed code changes should be mailed or hand-delivered to Vanessa Carr, Executive Secretary, at the Alabama Public Library Service office at 6030 Monticello Drive, Montgomery, AL 36117.

At the public hearing, each person can speak for up to three minutes. Potential speakers should request to make oral comments to vcarr@apls.state.al.us no later than 4:30 p.m. on April 29. APLS will determine the order of oral statements by the requested date.