New Alabama public library code could change what children find on bookshelves
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WHNT) — Alabama public libraries will now be required to remove material that is considered explicit from children’s sections. The change in the rules for public libraries could influence what children find on the shelves.
“We’re not taking away your rights. We’re putting you back in the driver’s seat,” said Emily Jones of Moms for Liberty. The Alabama Public Library Service funds over 220 libraries statewide. After making changes to its code, the service is requiring children’s sections to be free of obscene or explicit material. If libraries do not implement these policies, they could lose their funding. Advocates said the rule change is not about withholding information.
“This is not about censoring. This is not about book banning. This is truly about parents,” Jones said. “Get involved, oversee what’s going on with your children, know what’s going on in their lives, and sit down and have the right conversations with them in a way that it aligns with your values.”