Dispute Over Book Placement at Fairhope Public Library

The Fairhope Public Library is currently at odds with state officials regarding the categorization of certain books intended for teens. This disagreement has raised questions about potential halts to national funding and the broader implications for libraries.

According to reports, the Alabama Public Library Services (APLS) board made a decision in March to freeze approximately $42,000 in annual funds for libraries. The APLS contends that in order to receive state assistance, public libraries must reclassify certain content as adult material.

The crux of the issue revolves around differing interpretations of what constitutes “sexually explicit” content. John Wahl, APLS Board Chair, along with executive Amy Minton, argue that works discussing masturbation, oral sex, or related themes fall into that category. In contrast, the Fairhope Library Committee has taken a more nuanced legal stance, evaluating the overall context of each book to determine its intended effect on readers.

After reviewing 15 titles flagged by APLS, the Fairhope Committee voted on June 16 to move five books to the adult section while retaining nine others, including “I’m doing it.” by Hannah Whitton in the teen area. One book didn’t receive a vote, so patrons aged 13 to 17 now have access to ten titles.

Decisions by the board remain final for five years, meaning that any reviewed titles won’t be reconsidered until 2030. However, APLS officials have stated that funding will only be reinstated if all materials deemed explicit by internal standards are appropriately reclassified. Wahl was clear that there are “no loopholes or gray areas” in this requirement.

Minton and Wahl both stressed that while the APLS policy doesn’t outright ban certain books, they must be shelved correctly. Minton also noted that approximately 95% of public libraries in the state adhere to this directive.

The state contributes around $1 million annually to library funding, a small fraction of Fairhope libraries’ overall budget, which is mainly supported by local municipalities. However, the potential loss of these funds raises concerns about access to services, including a county-wide book courier system.

The APLS board will review Fairhope’s decision at its next meeting on July 17.