By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
As battles over book bans, censorship, and public library funding continue across the nation, an Alabama advocacy group working to defend access to books and support local libraries has received new funding to expand its efforts statewide.
Read Freely Alabama recently announced it was awarded a $40,000 grant from the Nathan Cummings Foundation to support civic engagement initiatives tied to public libraries across Alabama.
The grassroots nonprofit advocates for intellectual freedom, opposes censorship, and supports the First Amendment right to read. According to the organization, the funding will support eight events, including six in-person gatherings and two virtual sessions focused on civic engagement, equitable access to library materials, and public participation in local library decisions.
The grant comes during a period of increasing political and financial pressure on public libraries nationwide. Since 2021, tens of thousands of books have been removed or challenged in schools and libraries across the country, many involving themes related to race, gender identity, or LGBTQ issues. Advocacy organizations and library supporters have warned that public libraries are facing coordinated campaigns aimed at restricting access to information and reducing funding for library services.
Concerns have also grown following President Donald Trump’s proposed 2027 federal budget, which calls for eliminating the Institute of Museum and Library Services, commonly known as IMLS. The agency serves as the primary source of federal funding for libraries and museums across the United States and supports a wide range of library services, including funding for books and materials, computers and technology upgrades, children’s and adult programming, literacy initiatives, workforce development resources, and internet access services that are particularly critical in many rural Alabama communities. Library advocates say IMLS funding also helps support digital resources, staff training, outreach programs, and services for seniors, students, and individuals with disabilities.
The American Library Association said the proposal would “zero out” funding for IMLS, continuing previous efforts by Trump to eliminate the agency during both of his administrations. Advocacy groups, including EveryLibrary and the American Library Association, have warned that dismantling IMLS could significantly impact public library systems, particularly in small and rural communities that rely heavily on federal support.
In Alabama, many of the recent library debates have centered around actions by the Alabama Public Library Service Board, including rule changes involving books discussing transgender topics and the relocation of certain materials from youth sections to adult areas. Read Freely Alabama has been among the most active organizations opposing those restrictions and advocating for inclusive access to library materials.
In a statement, Read Freely Alabama (RFA) leadership said the new grant will help the organization expand outreach efforts, particularly in rural communities where libraries often serve as essential public resources.
“Read Freely Alabama is honored to have been chosen to receive this $40,000 grant from the Nathan Cummings Foundation to further our mission. We believe Alabama’s public libraries must remain equitable public spaces,” the group said. “These funds will allow us to expand our reach into rural communities of Alabama, which have historically been most impacted by racial injustice, and where, as needed, small community libraries are most vulnerable to coercive threats to funding if they choose not to censor library materials.”
The Chronicle spoke with Angie Hayden of RFA about upcoming events the group is planning.
“We plan to focus our in-person events in the Black Belt region of Alabama, where libraries are most vulnerable to losing their critical funding for not removing books like ‘The Hate U Give, which has been heavily targeted in Alabama,” Hayden said.
“We intend to not only educate communities about what is happening to their libraries, but also provide education and resources for attendees to become more civically engaged in order to take action to advocate for their libraries and the freedom to read,” she added.
Founded in 2023 as a volunteer-driven network, Read Freely Alabama has grown into one of the state’s leading library advocacy organizations. The group has organized local chapters across Alabama, mobilized residents to attend library board and Alabama Public Library Service meetings, and advocated against efforts to remove or restrict books from public libraries.
The organization gained statewide attention in 2025 after helping organize fundraising efforts for the Fairhope Public Library when state funding was paused during a dispute over books located in the library’s teen section. Supporters raised more than $42,000 within days to help offset the funding loss and support continued library operations.
The grant will be administered with support from the EveryLibrary Institute, which serves as Read Freely Alabama’s fiscal sponsor. Executive Director John Chrastka said the funding reflects growing recognition of the organization’s work.
“This grant from Nathan Cummings Foundation is both a recognition of Read Freely Alabama’s effectiveness and an investment in the kind of community-based, values-driven advocacy that strengthens libraries as essential civic institutions,” Chrastka said. “We are especially encouraged to see resources directed toward rural and historically underserved communities, where the stakes for access, equity, and the freedom to read are often the highest. Read Freely Alabama is building the kind of durable, local leadership that this moment demands.”
Kristi Whitfield, chief impact and partnerships officer at Nathan Cummings Foundation, said the organization’s work aligns with the foundation’s broader mission of supporting equitable access to information and civic participation.
“We need to protect libraries as a public good, because they provide open, equitable access to knowledge and information,” Whitfield said. “Read Freely Alabama facilitates meaningful civic engagement by organizing regional chapters that protect the interests of local communities. Read Freely Alabama is doing essential work at the intersection of racial justice and civic participation, at a moment when those freedoms are under real pressure.”
Officials with Read Freely Alabama said the expanded outreach efforts are intended to strengthen local involvement in library-related decisions and continue building support for public libraries across Alabama.
Angie Hayden received the Alabama Library Association award in April 2024 for the group’s public library advocacy.
