North Shelby Library
The North Shelby Library is a non-municipal library that serves a district in the northern portion of Shelby County.
The library was created in 1988 by an act of the Alabama State Legislature and a vote of residents in the district, who are levied a $15 annual fee per household toward its operations. The library is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is an affiliate of Shelby County's Mildred B. Harrison Regional Library System. Kate Etheredge is the executive director. The library also operates the Mt Laurel Library on Olmsted Street in Mt Laurel.
The North Shelby library is currently located at 5521 Cahaba Valley Road (Alabama State Highway 119)m across from Heardmont Park. The 28,000 square-foot, 2 story library building was constructed in 2001 to designs by Williams Blackstock Architects. The same firm designed renovations to the interior which were completed in 2021.
Members of the library's board are elected to 4-year terms. In practice, the number of qualified candidates has matched the number of seats, so few elections were actually held.
In June 2023 the library displayed a selection of Children's books with LGBTQ+ themes entitled "Take Pride in Reading" in recognition of Pride Month. During its June board meeting, a motion to change the library's policy so that the board would have to approve all programs, exhibits and displays. The motion was not adopted.
During the 2024 Alabama legislative session a bill co-sponsored by (R-District 43), Susan DuBose (R-District 45), and Jim Carns (R-District 48), stipulated that members to the board of the North Shelby Library should be elected by them, as the only members of the Shelby County Legislative Delegation whose districts are within the library district. Because the library was a 501(c)(3) it was prohibited from lobbying against the legislation. The bill was signed into law as Act of Alabama 2024-122 by Governor Kay Ivey on April 5, and went into effect on June 1, 2024.
References
- "Interior Design" (Fall 2001) Design Alabama Vol. 11, No. 2, p. 6
- Holmes, Jacob (September 18, 2023) "North Shelby Library Board fires back at “misinformation” by Rep. Susan Dubose, others." Alabama Political Reporter
- Holmes, Jacob (April 10, 2024) "Senate Shelby County delegation approves bill to take over library board." Alabama Political Reporter
- Morris, Williesha (May 1, 2024) "Shelby County library board to be appointed by state GOP." AL.com
- Morris, Williesha (May 11, 2024) "Alabama library opposes bill that would give control of its board to local politicians." AL.com
External links
- North Shelby Library website