Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has expressed concerns about sexually suggestive content available in the state’s public libraries, particularly in sections dedicated to children.
In a Sept. 1 letter to Nancy Pack, the director of the Alabama Public Library Service, Ms. Ivey, a Republican, requested answers regarding the environment libraries are providing to families and children.
“Especially given libraries’ importance to society, I have grown increasingly concerned due to recent reports calling into question whether our own libraries here in Alabama are most effectively fulfilling this important mission,” Ms. Ivey wrote.
The “heart of the issue” raised by Ms. Ivey revolves around the exposure of children and youth to “sexually suggestive materials without adequate means of parental supervision.”
She cited specific instances, including the book “Who Are You?: The Kid’s Guide to Gender Identity,” which she said is marketed to 5- to 8-year-olds for “understanding and celebrating the gender diversity that surrounds us.”
In another example, she states that the toddler’s section of another Alabama library features “The Pronoun Book,” a board book for 3-year-olds to learn about “preferred pronouns,” and “If You’re A Kid Like Gavin,” which is a self-proclaimed story about “gender transition” targeted at children between 4 and 8 years old.
These books, along with others such as “The Mirror Season” and “Only Mostly Devastated,” both of which feature graphic sex scenes, Ms. Ivey asserts, are not age-appropriate for their intended audience—12- and 13-year-olds.
“This list could go on, but the important point, as I understand it, is that each of these books has been made freely available in the very part of the library where children and youth are most likely to browse,” Ms. Ivey wrote.
Ms. Ivey’s main concern, however, is not the removal of these books but ensuring that they are placed in appropriate sections within libraries. She believes that parents should have a say in whether their children access such materials rather than leaving it to “the whims of a local library.”
Public libraries, the governor emphasized, have a critical role in communities, supporting research, learning, recreation, and literacy. Ms. Ivey stressed that Alabama libraries should be a safe space for all community members, irrespective of their background or income, to read, learn, and explore.
The governor also criticized out-of-state library groups like the American Library Association (ALA) for potentially exacerbating the situation.
She highlighted the ALA’s “Library Bill of Rights,” which the Alabama Public Library Service has adopted. According to the ALA’s guidelines, library use should not be restricted based on age, and children and teens should have the right to access information of their choice.
“Even more startling, the Library Bill of Rights further provides that all people, regardless of age, ‘possess a right to privacy and confidentiality in their library use’—a statement that appears to directly contravene Alabama’s law giving parents access to their children’s library records,” she wrote.
She believes that these discrepancies have led to concerns among Alabama parents regarding the content in libraries and the role of parents in guiding their children’s library use.
To address these concerns, the governor requested that the Alabama Public Library Service provide answers to a series of questions before their executive board meeting on Sept. 13. These questions include inquiries about measures taken to ensure parental supervision, the role of the Library Service in advising local libraries on content screening, and the Library Service’s involvement in facilitating parental events.
Additionally, Ms. Ivey asked for an account of the funds paid to the American Library Association over the past five years and inquired about the extent to which the Library Service relies on ALA materials and policies.
Ms. Ivey acknowledged the importance of Alabama libraries in promoting a love of learning and expressed confidence in improving them to better serve the needs of taxpayers and families while respecting parents’ rights and concerns.
The Alabama Public Library Service has yet to respond to Ms. Ivey’s letter, and this issue is expected to generate further discussion and debate in the coming weeks.
