Alabama Libraries Highlight Community Impact Amid Controversy
Alabama libraries have found themselves at the center of attention recently, although they haven’t been able to fully celebrate their services due to ongoing controversies surrounding the books available. Jennifer Butler Keaton from My Alabama Library is working to shed light on the positive contributions of these libraries across the state.
“Public libraries change daily lives in a variety of ways,” Keaton noted. “Children develop a love for learning and reading, while older adults maintain vital connections within their communities. People of all ages acquire new job skills, pursue meaningful hobbies, and foster friendships.”
With over 200 public libraries in Alabama, each one offers support, resources, and opportunities for its community. Keaton’s initiative, My Alabama Library, aims to raise awareness about the offerings of local libraries. She hopes to strengthen community support by sharing personal success stories through interviews, articles, and videos.
The magazine published last week features multiple generations of families who frequently visit the Rogersville Public Library. This tradition has roots in the 92-year-old Rosalie Lewis’s lifelong passion for reading. Her daughter, Patty Reeves, attributes her own journey as a second-grade teacher to the influence of her mother’s love for books and her childhood visits to the local library. Today, the family, including two-year-old Beckham and one-year-old Warren, visits the library biweekly, stocking up on books, while the children engage in story time and arts and crafts with library staff.
“I just learned with her feet,” Reeves recounted of her mother, adding that she encourages young Beckham to “choose a book or a toy whenever they visit the library.”
This story is just one among several set to be highlighted at the Rogersville Public Library throughout August. “After months of preparation, I’m excited to see this publication finally come to life,” Keaton expressed. “Rogersville is a standout library, especially significant for a rural community. Supporting a local library truly reflects an investment in a happier, more fulfilling community.”
