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Residents press Prattville council for transparency and new-book purchases at public library
Summary
Two residents told the council the library board has been inactive and that the library’s recent 'just added' listings indicate few new-release title purchases; they asked the council to review book-purchase invoices and demand greater transparency.
Two residents used the council’s public-comment period on May 6 to urge the City Council to investigate operations and transparency at the public library and at the library board.
Karen Ballard Cooper said she attended a recent Billingsley Library board meeting and found no old or new business on the agenda; she said the board, which she identified as the policy and planning body for local libraries, has not met frequently and that the community deserves transparency about library planning and policy decisions. Cooper asked the council to require the board to be more forthcoming about its actions.
Jackie Nicks, who also addressed the council, focused on book purchases. Nicks said the library’s budget for new books is about $5,000 per month and that the “Just Added” section on the library catalog showed only 45% of newly listed titles as 2025 publications, with some titles dating to 1958 and others from the 1980s and 1990s. She asked the council to review invoices for monthly book purchases and to confirm the criteria used to select new titles. Nicks said the council, which controls funding, should hold the library board accountable if the board fails to demonstrate fiscal responsibility.
Councilors did not debate or take immediate action during the meeting; the mayor and staff indicated the council could be asked for information and records via formal requests or follow-up. The council did not schedule a committee or staff report on the library during the meeting.
