Gov. Kay Ivey has signed HB89, which places the North Shelby Library’s board appointments under the control of five Republican legislators.

Current board members, even those with open terms, will be removed. HB89 co-sponsor Rep. Susan DuBose said an application process for five new board members will be available, and “anybody that would like can apply, including current board members.”

“We think that we’re going to be able to put together a very professional board. People that have a variety of experience,” DuBose said. “That’s part of the advantage, when you appoint a board, you can make sure that the board is just really representative of the whole district.”

Most local libraries have boards appointed by local governments; North Shelby’s system, which allowed candidates to run for office, stood out.

The legislation is the first 2024 bill to pass pertaining to libraries. Two bills criminalizing librarians for providing supposed “obscene” content to children still are being considered.

Reps. DuBose, Jim Carns, Arnold Mooney and Sens. J.T. Waggoner and Dan Roberts, who represent voters within the library district, will select new members. Under the new legislation, at least one board member must be a business owner.

“That was one of the problems we had before,” DuBose said. “The businesses felt underrepresented.”

Residents in unincorporated parts of Shelby County voted to create North Shelby under a 1988 legislative act. With the area’s rapid growth, an affiliated library in Mt. Laurel was built. Other libraries in the county operate under the jurisdiction of a city or county government.

Residents pay $15 annually, and business owners pay $34 annually to fund the library fully. The board of trustees, along with the library director and business manager, handle business and financial matters.

Not many people applied to be part of the board, according to library director Kate Etheredge. Board members ran unopposed for years.

Board treasurer Kay Kelley, a board member for more than 20 years, said perhaps the lack of board challenges was because “patrons were satisfied with my performance as a trustee and did not feel it necessary to oppose me.”

Last year, libraries statewide, including North Shelby, were scrutinized for potentially “inappropriate content” for children. Several residents complained in June about an LGBTQ Pride book display, which drew the attention of legislators like DuBose.

Resident and retired pediatrician Marsha Sturdevant attended meetings where people made complaints. She said legislation is based on people’s fear of what they don’t understand.

“I’m not sure that legislating from the perspective of fear is a great way to legislate,” Sturdevant said.

DuBose said the bill “has nothing to do with the selection of the books.”

“I think it got everyone paying attention to the library and the library board,” DuBose said. “How is it selected? What are the guidelines that our library board has enforced or has selected to follow?”

DuBose also cited the high costs to the library of holding and running an election and the costs to candidates as reasons for this legislative change.

Kelley and Etheredge said no one from the delegation contacted them to give them more details. Kelley said no one notified her she is no longer on the board.

According to Kelley, the library’s bank loan officer informed her that “if the organizational structure, legislation, or funding sources change for the library, we will have to get an attorney to review changes.”

The library’s $1.8 million loan rate is guaranteed at 3.5% but may need to be refinanced to a higher rate.

“I would really like to hear more from everyone involved with our library about how we can keep supporting the library and all of the people who use it,” Sturdevant said. “I hope many of the library’s friends will be submitting applications to become board members.”