A House committee approved a bill by Rep. Arnold Mooney, HB89, that would appoint the board members of an Alabama library system instead of selecting them through a public election.

The North Shelby Public Library is the only system in Alabama not formed or maintained under a city council or county commission. A 1988 legislative act created the library as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that’s almost entirely funded by residents.

This legislation follows months of book challenges and concerns about “inappropriate content” for children in public libraries statewide.

The library director Kate Etheredge said she expects to hold a local election this fall to fill three of the five open seats. She wants to keep that process in place.

“For the first time that I can remember, we have had people wanting to run for the library board instead of having to beg them,” Etheredge said. “This bill is taking the opportunity for our own district residents to vote away.”

While there was only one book challenged at North Shelby last year, DuBose said in October she received complaints about a Pride display with LGBTQ books at the main branch. Kasandra Stevens, who spoke in favor of the bill, said she was concerned about a “controversial display” in June and submitted her name to be on the board.

“Instead of appointing a new member to the board which would have helped bring the community together, the board recalled a previous board member who fell in line with the goals.”

Four members of the public, including current board member Ann Price, spoke against the bill and three spoke in favor, including Stephanie Smith, president of the Alabama Policy Institute.

Ahead of today’s public hearing, the Alabama Library Association president Matthew Layne said “residents should retain their right to amend their policies, not the politicians in Montgomery.”

“From one end of Alabama to the other, folks are tired of Montgomery politicians trying to score political points by stirring up angry debates,” Layne said. “They very definitely don’t want their libraries becoming political battlegrounds.”

The process for selecting potential library board members is unclear. Mooney, Carns and DuBose did not respond to requests for comment.

The proposed legislation has been “years in discussion,” according to a statement this week on the Shelby County legislative delegation website. “Under the current statute, there is no oversight to the board, and we believe that every dollar of tax payer money should have the same checks-and-balance that other publicly funded entities have to meet,” the delegation said.

The legislation requires one member be a business owner living in the district.

“For many years the business community within the library district has felt underrepresented, despite also being subject to the district library fee,” the delegation said. “Their inclusion will help the library board to have fair and equitable representation.”