John Wahl, chair of the Alabama Public Library Service and the Alabama Republican Party speaks to attendees of a meeting on Jan. 15 2026. The APLS Board voted to continue denying state funds to Fairhope Public Library and declared ten books in its teen section, including Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” were sexually explicit and needed to be removed. (Ralph Chapoco/Alabama Reflector)
The Alabama Public Library Service Thursday said that Fairhope Public Library remains out of compliance with the administrative code and will continue to withhold state aid until the library is back in compliance.
The library must remove at least 10 books from a section for teenagers that the Fairhope Library Board voted to keep there, including “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood; “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky…