The Madison City Library Board voted to accept revisions to its policy after a state review and will send the final draft to the Alabama Public Library Service (APLS), the board said at a meeting where multiple public commenters pressed the board to maintain broad access to library materials.

Board Chair said the board had made the changes requested by the state and then called the vote: “All those in favor, say aye.” After the aye vote, the chair said, “Motion passes,” and that the draft would be finalized, mailed to APLS and posted on the library website.

The board said state reviewers asked for specific citations and wording changes to align the library’s policy with state guidance. Board members described one wording change as replacing references to “children of mine, young adults” with “patrons under the age 19” to clarify age categories and reported receiving verbal confirmation from APLS that the policy will pass the state aid check.

Public commenters repeatedly urged the board to preserve access to historical materials and current-events books. Reverend Carrie Pyle told the board she would not leave the state over disagreements and asked the board to “keep access to the historical record and current events, including … gender stories in the children and young adult sections with age-appropriate standards.”

Jerry Davila, speaking during public comment, said libraries are central to free inquiry: “Libraries are more than just buildings with shelves and books. They are the main part of a free and informal society,” he said, urging the board to resist efforts to restrict access.

Board members emphasized that the policy revisions were made to secure state funding and to provide clarity for staff, who the board described as doing “a wonderful job.” The board said attorneys and state reviewers examined the draft and that the changes were mostly clarifying language and required citations.

The board did not identify formal challengers by name in the meeting record; several commenters referenced broader national debates about book access and urged the board to adopt policies that keep material available with appropriate, staff-applied age guidance.

The board expects the finalized policy to secure the library’s state aid; a board member said the library would receive its first state aid check shortly after the APLS stamp of approval.