Group opposed to sexually explicit children’s books welcomes Prattville library board’s rule change; supporters remain silent

Clean Up Alabama, the group that started the statewide movement against the inclusion of sexually explicit books in Alabama libraries, applauds the library board’s recent rule change ‘Autauga-Prattville that could create problems for a federal lawsuit filed against the board by those trying to keep the books where they are.

The Library Board of Trustees voted Monday to align its policies with new administrative rule changes adopted by the Alabama Public Library Service after Gov. Kay Ivey suggested the rules in response to concerns from the Status Concerning Sexually Explicit Children’s Books.

A little over a year ago, local residents began petitioning the city council, library board and county commission to address the problem. After months of back and forth, the council adopted a series of policy changes relating to the purchase and display of books with sexual content and books dealing with themes related to gender identity, transgender and more.

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A group of state advocates then filed a federal lawsuit against the board, claiming the new rules were unconstitutional, vague and overly broad. However, on Monday, the Autauga-Prattville Library Board amended its rules, clarifying procedures for placing, reviewing and moderating book content in the library.

SEE: Autauga-Prattville Library Board changes its rules to align with state regulations amid federal lawsuit

The library board’s decision could jeopardize the federal lawsuit. Since the board simply brought its policies into line with the APLS’s, the lawsuit may have to be amended to add the state, which would require the state to intervene.

Read Freely Alabama, the statewide group that fights to keep sexually explicit books on children’s library shelves, has remained silent on the rule change, only sharing an article from the state-funded far-left media site Alabama Political Reporter.

Meanwhile, Clean Up Alabama praised the board for “continuing to stay strong” amid the tumult it has faced in recent months.

“Clean Up Alabama commends the Autauga Prattville Public Library Board of Trustees for continuing to fight to protect Alabama’s children from exposure to sexual content in public libraries,” the group said in a communicated.

He continued: “While Clean Up Alabama would prefer to see inappropriate materials clearly defined in state library policies, this decision by the APPL to define them in a resolution still maintains the integrity of the intent to protect children from exposure to any sexual content and will also ensure their protection.

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