Foley Residents Express Concerns About Public Library Books Containing Graphic Content

Foley, Alabama (WKRGMore) — Foley residents are concerned that several books in the Young Adults section of the Foley Public Library contain sexual depictions or content.

The bookshelves in the Young Adults section of the Foley Public Library are lined with rows and rows of books, some of which are sexually explicit and graphic. Some residents believe that these books should be banned for minors.

Jack Green, a longtime Foley resident, said he wants his city and county to be ethical and look out for minors.

“I am stubbornly here against this filth in the library,” Green said. “Kids like this don’t have to be subjective about this sort of thing. We should be a Christian county and we should act like that.”

Libraries currently require parental approval for children under the age of 15 before borrowing books.

Foley Mayor Ralph Helmich said the city is listening to concerns.

“They outlined their concerns,” Helmich said. “Our city council will hear it, consider what to do with the library, and make whatever changes are necessary.”

The Foley Public Library is reviewing 24 books in its Young Adults department. It is then determined whether the book is really on the shelf.

Foley resident Stephanie Williams spoke at the city council Monday night.

“I don’t see where the restrictions are on having this material withheld by children who have a library card,” Williams said.

Mr. Williams prepared a packet filled with the names and pages of the books, including explicit graphics and content, for presentation to the council.

Green said the community needs to speak up before the issue continues.

“When this kind of filth is embedded in the community, the community doesn’t say anything,” Green said. “Speak up. If you don’t stand up and speak up, we will not only lose our children, we will lose our communities,” Green said.

The books are now being re-evaluated, and Mayor Helmich said that by the next city council meeting, we should have some answers and perhaps even a solution to the problem.