ROBERTSDALE — With libraries in Baldwin County and Alabama taking the spotlight in recent months for changes to policies about what books are allowed in teen and children's sections, Robertsdale is taking its own action.

The Robertsdale Public Library recently updated its policies to comply with state code. According to library Director Cynthia Nall, children ages 5 through 17 are required to have a parental consent form. Parents can choose a library card for their child that enables what kind of books and materials they can check out. Parents also have the ability to choose a library card with options including restrictions to the children section only or a card with no restrictions, which grants them permission to check out books and materials from all sections of the library. City Council Member Ruthie Campbell confirmed these policies were approved by the Alabama Public Library Services (APLS).

Robertsdale City Council approved the new policies during a meeting on April 21, passing a resolution acknowledging "national and state news" and concerns over "age appropriateness" and accessibility of library content to children, seeking "to reassure its residents that it remains firm to its commitment to maintain" a family-friendly environment by supporting the Robertsdale Public Library and its new policies.

"This policy places the Robertsdale Public Library in line with new standards that are currently being implemented and developed across the state," the resolution states.

Elsewhere in Baldwin, the Fairhope Public Library was the first in Alabama to see its state funding paused by the APLS over alleged violations of its code regarding "inappropriate" and "sexually explicit" material in the teen and children's section. APSL Chairman John Wahl, who also serves as the chair for the Alabama Republican Party, said the Fairhope Public Library "ignored" the concerns of parents and was given "clear and specific guidance" on state code and guidelines, though he said the APLS has not issued a judgement on whether the books in question "contained inappropriate material under state code."

On April 21, Fairhope's library board voted to retain two challenged books within the teen section: "Grown" by Tiffany Jackson and "Sold" by Patricia McCormick, both of which feature stories centered on young women facing sexual abuse and exploitation. According to the catalog database from the Baldwin County Public Library System, neither book is listed as being on shelves in the Robertsdale Public Library.