APLS Board Votes to Continue Pause of Funding to Fairhope Public Library

Warning: Attached material contains explicit language and content and is intended for adult review ONLY.

From APLS Board Chairman John Wahl

Montgomery — Today, the Alabama Public Library Service Board voted to continue withholding state funding from the Fairhope Public Library following the library’s continued refusal to remove sexually explicit materials from children’s sections, despite repeated warnings and opportunities to correct the issue.

The vote came after representatives from the Fairhope Public Library formally requested that state funding be reinstated. During the meeting, excerpts from several of the books in question were presented to the Board. When asked to explain why the material should not be considered sexually explicit or inappropriate for children’s sections, library representatives declined or were unable to provide a clear explanation, further reinforcing concerns raised by parents and Board members.

“This decision was unavoidable,” said John Wahl. “Taxpayer dollars should never be used to expose children to graphic sexual content. When a public library knowingly keeps explicit material in sections intended for minors, it violates the trust of parents and the responsibility entrusted to it by the people of Alabama.”

The materials at issue include books containing explicit sexual descriptions, graphic illustrations, and detailed depictions of sexual acts—content that most parents would reasonably expect to be restricted to adult sections. Parents who reviewed the books raised serious concerns that the material was not merely suggestive or educational in nature, but clearly intended for mature audiences, yet remained accessible to children browsing youth and children’s areas.

In addition to explicit sexual content, many of the books in question also contain extensive and repeated profanity, further underscoring their unsuitability for children’s sections. Reviews of the materials revealed hundreds of instances of vulgar and offensive language, including explicit sexual terms, slurs, and profanity that most parents would not consider appropriate for minors. The “F” word alone appeared 184 times across the 11 books reviewed. This level of language would warrant adult classification in most public settings, yet these books remained shelved in areas designated for children and young readers.

“This is not about banning books or suppressing ideas,” Wahl emphasized. “Adults are free to read what they choose. The issue is age-appropriateness. Children’s sections exist for a reason. Placing explicit sexual material—combined with pervasive profanity—in those spaces is indefensible.”

Chairman Wahl noted that the Fairhope Public Library was given ample opportunity to resolve the matter by simply relocating the materials to appropriate adult sections, a standard practice followed by libraries across the state. The library’s refusal to do so left the Board with no alternative.

“The Alabama Public Library Service Board has a duty to ensure state funding is used responsibly,” Wahl said. “Continuing to fund a library that refuses to protect children from explicit content would amount to state endorsement of that behavior. Today’s action sends a clear message: safeguarding children is not optional, and this Board will stand up for Alabama families.”

Wahl reaffirmed his support for libraries that respect parents, follow common-sense standards, and uphold their responsibility to minors.

“This situation can be corrected immediately,” he said. “Move adult material out of children’s sections, restore appropriate safeguards, and funding can be restored. The goal here is accountability, protection of children, and restoring public confidence—not punishment.”

Note: Attached are excerpts from the books referenced above for review and documentation purposes.

Excerpts from the Fairhope Library Book Report are available at THIS LINK, with warnings as above.