The board of the Autauga-Prattville Public Library on Saturday appointed a new interim director just days after former director Andrew Foster and four staff members were fired, amid months of book challenges, according to news reports.

Protestors stood outside of the library holding signs and many others sat in on the meeting as the library’s board of trustees unanimously named the interim director, Tammy Bear, WSFA reported.

“The first thing I want the interim director to do is start hiring people,” board chairman Ray Boles said, according to The Montgomery Advertiser. “I don’t want the library closed for one day.”

Residents called for the reinstatement of Foster and his colleagues and an end to challenging books.

The board fired Foster after he fulfilled an open records request. Other employees were fired after they closed the library following Foster’s termination.

Boles has said Foster gave a reporter redacted emails about the new book policy and about potentially moving more than 100 children’s and young adult books to the adult section that discussed “sexual orientation, gender identity or gender discordance.”

The board also reprimanded Foster for recording meetings, which is allowed by state law if at least one person consents.

Read Freely is partnering with the national library advocacy organization EveryLibrary with a petition and fundraiser.

Efforts to contact Autauga-Prattville Library board members were not immediately successful.