A group opposing the censorship of materials in the youth sections of Alabama libraries is calling again for the resignation of Alabama Public Library Service board member Amy Minton and chairman John Wahl.
The renewed call for the resignations follows the publication by Minton of a list of nearly 9,000 books at libraries across the state that she claimed could show lack of compliance with new state code that requires books detailing transgender concepts be kept in the adult section.
“The hard work of our Alabama librarians is greatly appreciated but based on this information there are many Alabama Public Libraries that could be out of compliance,” Minton said. “The APLS library board is seeking to appoint an assistant to advise Alabama Public Libraries during this time of transition as there are currently many books that remain in the minor sections of the library, indicating movement of these books voluntarily hasn’t occurred or they are unaware. If any parent finds a book in the children or young adult sections, please help identify these books by first notifying the Librarian and completing your local library’s book challenge form. Then, if the books are not moved or removed, please bring it to the attention of the APLS State Library board.”
Minton pushed for the hiring of such an assistant at the latest board meeting, but that appointment cannot be made directly by the board and direct Kelyn Ralya opted not to fill the position after consultants advised it to be unnecessary and possibly problematic for merit system employees.
Within hours of publishing the list of potentially violative books, many were found to not be in the youth section at all.
“Take, for instance, the Cullman County Public Library System, which Minton and 1819 News targeted, forcing the library to rush to make a statement correcting the record and defending their library,” Read Freely Alabama leadership said in a statement. “Every title named by Minton is located in the adult section, meaning CCPLS is fully compliant with state code. The library demolished its young adult section last year in order to receive their state funding.
“Many more such stories of libraries forced to comply with this draconian administrative code exist in Alabama, and yet that still isn’t enough for Wahl or Minton. Now librarians are forced to publicly defend themselves once again from baseless, manufactured accusations from the very board that holds their funding hostage.”
The renewed calls for Wahl’s resignation are based on comments he made in the accompanying 1819 News article supportive of Minton’s actions.
“The APLS code requires that books deemed inappropriate be ‘weeded or relocated to the adult section,’ yet the physical locations of books were ignored in this bad faith inspection of library catalogs. Libraries who have moved their YA books into Adult Sections were still targeted by this article and the list of inappropriate books apparently obtained from Amy Minton,” the Alabama Library Association said in a statement. “John Wahl, as Chair of the APLS Executive Board, neglected his duty to check the veracity of these claims before endorsing them and casting aspersions on libraries who are already in compliance with the rules his body has set––even though they aren’t required to be compliant before September 30.
