Clay City Council Withdraws Library from Alabama Public Library Service amid Contentious Discussions Over Book Purchases

CLAY, Ala.

The Clay City Council in Alabama made a significant move on Tuesday, following a number of disputes over the city’s management of its local library. The council voted to pull the library out of the Alabama Public Library Service (APLS). The move was sparked over disagreements regarding library operations and the handling of book purchases.

Roots of the Issue

Trouble started brewing earlier this year when the Clay Library bought a book titled “Hero Tales: A Family Treasury of True Stories from the Lives of Christian Heroes” by Dave and Neta Jackson. Despite reports to the contrary, the city did not block the purchase of the book, according to City Manager Ronnie Dixon. However, a citizen raised a concern about the library featuring Christianity-themed books but not those about other religions. The citizen suggested that the library prepare to order books about heroes of other religions as well, to avoid attracting criticism from watchdog groups.

Concerns Over Library Policy

Later during a library advisory board meeting, Dixon suggested avoiding the purchase of books that could draw attention to the Clay library based on their religious, gender, or sexual orientation content. Dixon advised the library to refrain from buying books if a religious text was used as its sole source, sparking controversy. Sarah Grafman, Library Board Secretary, requested clarification on the book purchasing policy.

The City Manager’s Stance

Dixon stated that it wasn’t about blocking the purchase of religious materials but about ensuring balance and preventing controversy. In an email exchange, the city manager argued that while most local residents would accept any Christian books purchased, critics could globally escalate objections. Dixon affirmed that the library could still offer patrons requested materials through the Jefferson County Library Cooperative (JCLC), thereby avoiding contentious purchases.

Powers of the Library Board

The disagreements led to another contention point: the city had limited the library board’s duties, a violation of the Code of Alabama. Legally, public library boards have full authority over library expenditures, book purchases, and employee appointments. The library board expressed concerns over erroneous operations and the city’s lack of transparency.

State Agency Intervention

Nancy Pack, director of the state agency APLS, clarified that all libraries were required to comply with state code to receive APLS funding. She pointed out that if the city preferred to operate the library independently, it could withdraw from APLS – a decision that would mean forgoing about $10,000 annually in state aid and losing access to APLS resources.

The Pivotal Decision

The debates culminated in a city council meeting. With no prior advertisement or inclusion in the preliminary meeting itinerary, Councilor Dean Kirkner put forward a motion to withdraw the city library from the APLS. The council passed the motion in a four-to-one vote. According to Mayor Charles Webster, despite leaving the APLS, the library would continue to be part of the JCLC.

The Aftermath

Post council meeting, several library board members expressed concerns over the board’s role moving forward given the city’s control over library operations. They believed that the city seemed to be favoring the consolidation of library authority under City Manager Ronnie Dixon, which defied the Level Play Act of Alabama. Overall, this situation has left the future of the library’s administration in uncertainty.