Cullman Library is eliminating its young adult book section due to new state rules

CULLMAN, Ala. (WAFF) – Libraries across the state have recently had to make major policy changes due to new rules implemented by the Alabama Public Library Service in July.

Under these new rules, libraries could lose their state funding if obscene, sexually explicit or inappropriate material is in the children’s or teen section of the library.

Cullman County Public Library Director Amber Thornton said they have eliminated their entire young adult section because of the changes.

Cullman County library officials moved everything from the young adult section to the adult fiction section. This process involved reclassifying more than 2,000 books.

Thornton said they decided to do this because the state’s new rules are confusing.

“Someone could come in and find a book in the juvenile department and it could have a curse word in it and they deem that inappropriate,” Thornton said. “You know, it’s just that the guidelines aren’t very clear about what exactly is inappropriate, and that scares a lot of libraries.”

There are also new rules if a teen wants to watch something from the adult section. Minors who want to view something from the library need permission from their parents. Parents must sign a waiver indicating that they understand exactly what their child is checking out.

“We just felt like it was a parental decision,” Thornton said. “Just like you have to monitor what your child is looking at on a cell phone and on social media, it is up to the parent to monitor what their child is reading and have conversations with them about it.”

Thornton also said the new rules have made her librarians’ jobs a lot more difficult.

“We don’t have the staff to read every book in the library,” Thornton said. “We try to be diligent and follow these policies and protect children, but at the same time we are not given clear guidance on who finds what inappropriate and what exactly”

Libraries across the state had until Oct. 1 to change their policies or risk losing their first quarter funding. These changes come after parents across the state said they were concerned about materials being placed in certain areas of the library.

The library still has a youth and children’s section of the library.

The Huntsville-Madison County Library also updated its policy to state that it will not purchase books or other materials that could be considered inappropriate for children or teens.

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