Alabama City Reverses Decision on Christian Library Book Ban Amidst Controversy

In Clay, Alabama, a small city’s internal power struggle has led to a heated debate over the inclusion of religious books in the local library.

Last month, City Manager Ronnie Dixon informed the library board that they could no longer purchase religious books, aiming to prevent potential lawsuits from political groups. This directive initially included a prohibition on acquiring the Christian book “Hero Tales: A Family Treasury of True Stories from the Lives of Christian Heroes” by Dave and Neta Jackson. However, following public backlash, Dixon reversed his decision, allowing the book to be purchased.

Dixon explained his initial stance, saying, “The library should not do anything that would draw attention from watchdog groups.” He further clarified that the library should avoid acquiring books that could attract scrutiny based on religious or gender/sexual content unless similar content was already available in the Jefferson County Library Cooperative (JCLC).

This statement alarmed many Christians in Clay. Although Alabama recently updated rules to keep inappropriate books away from children, these regulations do not apply to religious materials.

Library board members were equally puzzled. In an email to Dixon, board secretary Sarah Grafman expressed concern over potential legal issues related to religious liberty. She noted, “When I read the governor’s statement, which I remember discussing in previous meetings, it was my understanding that she was referencing LGBTQ+ content, not religious.”

Dixon responded, acknowledging that while most of the community would accept Christian books, some individuals might object and escalate the issue. AL.com has attempted to reach Dixon for further comments.

Mayor Charles Webster downplayed the situation, attributing it to a clash of personalities between Dixon and the library board. “It was a miscommunication,” Webster said, explaining that the controversy started with a single patron questioning the presence of religious books on the shelves. “It wasn’t that we were against that book.”

The book was eventually approved and added to the library’s collection. Nonetheless, Webster expressed concerns about using taxpayer dollars to purchase books favoring one religion. “If you put a Bible on the shelf, you have to put a Quran on the shelf,” he stated. “You’re setting yourself up for a lawsuit when you start specifying stuff and you leave out one group.”

Library board members feel marginalized in decision-making. Grafman remarked, “The city doesn’t want the library board to have a say in what the library does. I feel like it’s embarrassing to the city, and no one really seemed to listen to me.” She suspects Dixon’s caution stemmed from letters received from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, although she did not see these letters herself.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, which advocates for the separation of church and state, has not found any documents verifying complaints to the City of Clay but has previously lodged complaints about religious activities in local schools and police departments.

Tara Gearhart, the library director, resigned in June and did not respond to requests for comment. Library board chair Jane Anderton criticized the city council's involvement in library decisions, arguing that the board should function as a governing body rather than an advisory one.

Dixon, responsible for the day-to-day operations of the library, must approve all expenditures, even minor ones. This level of control has led to accusations of governmental overreach, which were discussed at a July 9 library board meeting. Additionally, there was confusion over a $10,000 allocation to the library by Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Jefferson County), which the board was not informed about.

Despite recognizing Dixon’s positive contributions to the city, Anderton believes he should not oversee library operations. The library board plans to meet on July 23 to develop new curation policies and bylaws.