By Chris Basinger, Staff Reporter
TRUSSVILLE–Over a hundred people amassed in the Trussville Public Library Monday evening to make their voices heard on whether certain books should be removed from the library because of their content.
The boardroom was so crowded that some attendees had to stand in the hall and were only able to hear the proceedings.
At the start of the meeting, Library Director Jason Baker recounted the events that led up to the heavy turnout.
“We’re gathered here to hear from the first complainant regarding materials held at Trussville Public Library. This is the first concern about content and materials held at TPL in the time that I’ve been here, which is 15 years,” Baker said.
He went on to say that on Dec. 5, Sheila Wright and two others came to the library to share their concerns about some of the titles found on its shelves, many having to do with sexual orientation and gender identity.
“I explained that we’re a public library and public libraries serve all people in the community. And in an effort to compromise and accommodate, and as a one-time exception to our policy, we agreed to review the list of items that she currently had checked out,” Baker said.
The board took the list of 41 titles, read and reviewed them, and notified Wright of their decisions.
Of those 41 books, the board chose to take 11 out of their inventory because they did not meet the criteria for retention because of their low circulation numbers.
Five of the books were left in their original places, seven books were moved to the adult department, and 18 books will be moved to a new mature teen content area within the adult section.
Baker closed by saying that at the last board meeting in February, Wright read a letter demanding the removal of all 41 titles as well as additional materials not originally named.
Before the public comment period opened, one representative from each side of the library debate was given the floor for three minutes.
Wright spoke on the origin of her complaint and detailed some of specific content in the challenged books including depictions of sex and the questioning of gender identity.
“As stated in our letter of February 17, we are asking that the Trussville Library Board clean up the Trussville library by removing all material with inappropriate content as outlined in the letter involving minors or advertised for minors,” Wright said.
“We are totally opposed to simply moving the material to the adult department where it is still accessible. We wish to protect minors from indoctrination and exposure to what most of us consider unhealthy.”
Marti Slay, a member of the Trussville Friends of the Library and Read Freely Trussville, spoke next and recounted her own experience allowing her son to read a book about a boy who was on the spectrum, which included language some would find offensive.
“Many here would have this book removed from the shelves because of its language. I felt it was an important book for my son to read and learn from,” Slay said.
“That’s the beauty of a public library, there is something for everyone and as American citizens we have the freedom to choose. No one has the right to tell me or other parents what we think is best for our children.”
During the meeting’s public comment period, which was limited to 30 minutes in total, all of the Trussville residents who spoke did so in support of keeping the books, touching on their beliefs that parents should be the ones who have the ultimate say in what their children should and should not read and that removing the challenged books would disproportionately impact marginalized groups.
Many of them were also wearing stickers that read “Let Freedom Read.”
Matt Georgia, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 14 years, said, “I did four deployments overseas into combat zones where I was sent to defend freedom…I did not think I would have to come back to America and continue to defend that freedom so that our children could read what they want to read. We as parents can decide what is appropriate or inappropriate for our children without input from the community.”
Following the public comment period, Library Board Chair Debbie Waid spoke on the board’s ultimate decision to not remove all the challenged books.
“While anyone is personally free to reject books and other materials, you may not restrict the free choice of others. You are free to select or reject materials for yourself or your minor children but may not restrict the freedom of others to use or access materials or information,” Waid said.
She added that every child up to age 15 has their library card connected to a parent’s card and that parents are able to see anything their child checks out upon request.
Waid ended the meeting by saying, “The library board feels that we have made the appropriate decisions regarding these 41 items. We have researched applicable law concerning freedom of speech and First Amendment rights, and like it or not, we must conform to current laws which restrict removing books for content. Therefore, we stand by our decisions.”
After its conclusion, Wright expressed her dissatisfaction with the meeting.
“It was lopsided and I didn’t think that our people had an opportunity to voice their concerns. This was not just about gender ideology and LGBTQ, we were concerned about explicit sexual activity, excessive profanity, bestiality, promoting underage drinking,” Wright said.
“What we’re saying is this is vulgar filth that’s in some of these books and we want them removed.”