Georgia GOP lawmakers take aim at American Library Association

SAVANNAH, Ga. () – A bill to ban publicly funded libraries from putting taxpayer money toward the American Library Association (ALA) has been introduced in the Georgia legislature.

Some Republican lawmakers say the ALA is a partisan organization pushing an agenda.

The ALA provides accreditation for librarians, a necessary qualification to work in Georgia public libraries. The organization says they are fighting book bans and censorship by promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

But a proposed Senate bill, SB 390, says Georgia should no longer require that certification or “allow public moneys to be used to support the American Library Association.”

District 1 State Sen. Ben Watson (R), a co-sponsor of the bill, says this legislation would have the biggest influence in schools if passed. He adds that statements from the ALA president and the organization itself promote values that are inappropriate for children.

“Libraries should be a safe place for students to read and not be exposed to an agenda,” he told News 3. “And their agenda, her agenda, she specifically has said has been relating to woke aspects and DEI and things that are just not appropriate for that age, specifically pornography.”

“The definition of pornography is made by the Supreme Court,” Watson added. “You know it when you see it.”

Several months ago, an Effingham County commissioner accused the ALA of pushing a liberal agenda and promoting “transgenderism” and “pornography” to children, calling to remove funding from associated public libraries.

“The biggest issue is the ALA, it’s the American Library Association. That’s what I keep finding, the common denominator with everything. That is pretty much the organization that drives us down this path of transgenderism,” said Commissioner Roger Burdette.

Librarians tell News 3 that the ALA does not select materials for individual libraries and that those decisions are made locally.

SB 390 has only been introduced and not yet voted on in the Senate. Once that vote takes place, it would move to the House.