Rutherford County library director Luanne James’s stand against a vote to relocate more than 190 titles draws national support as the board weighs firing her.

Vote May 20 for Annette Bay Pimentel, Marci Miller, and Rochelle Smith for Latah County library trustee!

The Randolph County Board of Commissioners approved nine appointees to the Library Board of Trustees Monday as a dozen...

Fairhope, Alabama thefairhopetimes.blogspot.com        OTHERS LEFT IN PLACE  After hearing individual reviews of each book and the recommendations from two-person board-member teams randomly-assigned to read them, the Fairhope library board of trustees voted Monday afternoon to relocate five books challenged in 2023 (under the previous standards) by patrons for alleged sexually-explicit content policy violations -- and to keep nine others in place.  The 14 books were also on a list sent from Alabama State Library Service director John Wahl pertaining to the suspension of state funding to the Fairhope library earlier this year, for violating new state policies adopted in 2024. Book titles relocated included: Boy Toy, Damsel, The Haters, and Tricks -- from teen to adult section. Beyond Magenta, Shine, Crank, Doing It, Identical, Lighter Than My Shade, The Handmaid's Tale, and Perks of Being A Wallflower were some left in the teen section after the evaluations determined they met current Fairhope library policy standards.    One book, Sex is a Funny Word, was moved to the 'parental shelf '-- still in the youth section.  Chairperson Randall Wright commented she felt like "The Sword of Damocles is hanging over our heads," no matter what was done some will still be unhappy. No members of the public spoke during the meeting but Elizabeth Williams of the local Read Freely Alabama organization told the Times after she was appreciative of the board members' hard work and hoped the ALS would now see fit to release the suspended funding. Library Board members are all unpaid volunteers. http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheFairhopeTimes

Fairhope, Alabama      Wright second from left.   YEARLY OFFICER ELECTIONS During its April meeting, the Fairhope Library Board elected Randall Wright as its new chair, Andy Parvin vice chair and Anne Johnson secretary; this is done yearly during their April meeting. A matter concerning two books that were challenged by patrons earlier, then appealed to the full board when they (patrons) were dissatisfied with library staff's decision (left in place) ... was resolved when the full board voted to support library staff's decision. Additionally, the board voted to reverse a decision made during its last meeting not to go back and review 14 books (now 13) challenged in 2023  ... using new, updated review policy standards (more strict).  The books in question will be reviewed again by library staff.   FUNDING DISPUTE CONTINUES The board also discussed the current funding dispute with the Alabama Library Service which has suspended providing state funding (about $21K) -- and some $46K raised by private groups recently to replace it. Board members said they thought they were in compliance with all state policies as they understood them based partly upon the 'Miller Rule' (below) and local community standards provisions in state book policy; the replacement funds raised were to be transferred to the Friends of the Library non-profit  and disbursed to the board on an as-need basis ... or returned to donators (eventually) if not needed upon request, according to Johnson who spoke with the fundraiser's organizer. Miller Rule:  The "Miller Rule" in the context of library books refers to the Miller test, a legal standard used to determine if material is obscene and therefore not protected by the First Amendment. This test, established in the 1973 Supreme Court case Miller v. California, provides a framework for evaluating whether content is obscene, and thus potentially banable or restricted.http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheFairhopeTimes

Fairhope, Alabama    Johnson receiving award.   Mayor's statement.    A "CHALLENGING YEAR"  Library Board of Trustees Chairperson Anne Johnson received the "volunteer of the year" award from the mayor/council president on behalf of the entire Library Board during the city's annual volunteer appreciation dinner at the civic center earlier this week. Mayor Sullivan thanked the unpaid Board for their "dedication to the library" and for successfully managing a capital fundraising campaign for the renovation of the second floor (see the full statement above). Last summer, the Board became caught-up in a national debate concerning what some local conservatives see as "inappropriate" (ie. sexual content) material in non-adult sections of library. Other Board members are: Debra Langam, Dan Stankoski, Andy Parvin, Randall Wright, Jimmy Conyers is the city council's representative and Rob Gourlay is library director. NEW FUNDING CONTROVERSY Last week, the state's Alabama Library Service suspended providing state grants (about $21K) after receiving a similar complaint from a Fairhope resident about the location of several books. Johnson actually missed that debate entirely; she was out of the country on a pre-planned vacation according to another Board member.   Mayor Sullivan who is technically not a board member, took up their cause instead: according to various other media reports, she says the Board will respond to the complaint by revisiting the book issues during its next meeting on April 21. National news outlets like The Washintgon Post, CNN, and Fox News have already done stories about it; and the New York Times is planning one as well, according to an informed source. BOARDS SUPPOSED TO "TAKE POLITICS OUT" Library Boards are formed under state law to provide some isolation from local governments  -- and to seek grants from sources that may not be accessible to them. According to AI: "Library Boards have traditionally functioned independently to ensure that public libraries serve all community members free from political influence." In 2017, the city's previous mayor Karin Wilson unsuccessfully advocated dissolving the Board and putting the library under the city's control -- for purely financial reasons to save the city over $100K yearly (less "duplication of services"). POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS TO COME? The 'Baldwin County Conservative Coalition' mailed out political postcards last year demanding the mayor and council relocate the books -- with support from the local chapter of the national 'Moms For Liberty' organization. The conservative-leaning '1819 News'  has done a number of reports about their activities. On the other side, the local chapter of left-leaning 'Read Freely Alabama' has been very active as well, promoting for full access to library books and supporting the Board. That organization's week-long go-fund-me campaign on behalf of the Fairhope Library actually raised more than enough to replace the potential lost library funds from the state. The local 'Friends of the Library' non-profit has also been supporting the Board.  The city's municipal election is August 25; qualifying ends thirty days before.   May 2024 post card. http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheFairhopeTimes

The Los Angeles Public Library Board is soliciting public comments on a proposal initiated to name the Central Library Board of Library Commissioners Meeting Room in honor of Leontyne Butler King, the first African American to serve on the Board. The Board of Library Commissioners encourages community members to submit written comments for this proposal to: Los Angeles Public LibraryBoard of Library Commissioners 630 W. Fifth St. Los Angeles, CA 90071 Comments may also be submitted by email to: libcommission@lapl.org, no later than December 12, 2025. All feedback will be included in the public record and considered in finalizing this proposal to honor Leontyne Butler King. More information about Leontyne Butler King: View the Press Release Leontyne Butler King - A Commissioner for the Community You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Call for Comments: Naming the Board of Library Commissioners Meeting Room in Honor of Leontyne Butler King The deadline to submit written comments for this proposal is December 12, 2025. Name * Email address Comments * Leave this field blank

Incumbent Randolph County Commissioner David Allen was one of two members to vote against the library board's dismissal. His challenger, Carrie Slatosky, says removing the trustees was the right move.

The move comes several weeks after trustees voted to keep the children’s book “Call Me Max,” about a transgender boy, in the kids’ section following a request that it be relocated.