When state politics threatened the Fairhope Library, FundLibraries.org helped the community show up.

When state politics threatened the Fairhope Library, FundLibraries.org helped the community show up.

In just 5 days, they reached their fundraising goal of $40,000!

HELP SPREAD THE WORD!

Click to share this on Buesky, Threads, Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter

On March 20, 2025, the Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) Board — led by political appointees including the chair of the Alabama GOP Chair John Wahl — took an unprecedented and deeply troubling step: they revoked state aid to the Fairhope Public Library, slashing its budget by over $42,000.

They did this because the Fairhope Library board refused to remove or re-review books that some state board members and affiliated extremist groups claimed were “sexually explicit” — many of which simply featured LGBTQ+ characters or themes.

This wasn’t about obscenity. It was viewpoint and identity discrimination, plain and simple. And it was meant to send a chilling message to libraries across Alabama: censor or be punished. But the community had another message to send — one of solidarity, resistance, and support.

Help us sustain these fights by starting a monthly three-dollar donation today!

The Crisis: State-Sanctioned Censorship in Fairhope
The APLS board’s action against Fairhope didn’t occur in isolation. It followed a months-long campaign by right-wing groups like Moms for Liberty and Clean Up Alabama to pressure public libraries into removing materials they found objectionable — often simply because they depicted LGBTQ+ characters or tackled subjects like identity, sexuality, or race.

The Fairhope Public Library’s board stood firm, refusing to revisit materials that had already been reviewed under its existing policies. In response, the APLS board retaliated by cutting more than $42,000 in funding, despite the outpouring of local support for the library’s stance.

The Response: A Local-Statewide-National Partnership
Within hours of the APLS board’s vote, Read Freely Alabama, a statewide grassroots group defending the freedom to read, launched a crowdfunding campaign using the FundLibraries.org platform. EveryLibrary activated its national network of supporters — over 500,000 email subscribers and more than 1 million people across social media — to elevate the campaign and spotlight the censorship crisis unfolding in Alabama. Our goal was simple and urgent: replace every dollar the state had taken away — and do it fast enough to protect the library’s operations.

The EveryLibrary Institute operates FundLibraries.org and serves as the fiscal agent and campaign strategist. We are committed to managing these donations and providing back-end support so the Fairhope Public Library can focus on serving its community.

Monthly donations of just $3 from people like you made this campaign possible.

The Results: $42,000 Raised from 583 Donors in Just 6 Days
The campaign launched immediately after the March 20th vote. In just six days, 583 people from across Alabama and around the country contributed over $42,00, fully replacing the library’s lost funding and sending a powerful message to the APLS board and its political allies.

“I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to the Fairhope Library for all they do to support their community,” wrote Jeff Baker, a campaign backer. “Their dedication to advocating for what is right and for providing exceptional resources for young people is truly commendable.”

Heather Hume, another local supporter, didn’t hold back, saying, "I love FPL! How dare the state cut its funding and conspire with Moms for Liberty. No way is that ok to do without notifying city officials either. Don’t come for the libraries or extreme groups. You will be defeated.”

These weren’t isolated comments — they reflected a groundswell of public outrage and affection for a library that has long served as an educational haven for Fairhope residents.

How FundLibraries.org Made It Possible
FundLibraries.org is designed for moments exactly like this. Built by the EveryLibrary Institute, it provides:

• Rapid campaign setup and launch tools
• Secure donation processing and fiscal sponsorship
• Strategic messaging and outreach support
• A ready-made network of library defenders nationwide

It’s the only crowdfunding platform built by and for the library community — and the only one ready to move this quickly when political pressure threatens to silence stories and censor shelves.

Why It Matters: Libraries Are on the Front Lines
The story of Fairhope isn’t unique — and that’s a problem. Across the country, libraries are being attacked not because they’ve done something wrong but because they’ve done their jobs right: offering access to books, ideas, and communities that reflect America’s diversity. When regressive forces try to defund or intimidate libraries, there is a path to resistance — and a platform to power it.

What Comes Next — And How You Can Help
Fundraising for the Fairhope Library was fast and inspiring. But more libraries in Alabama and across the country are likely to face the same kind of pressure. That’s why the EveryLibrary Institute and FundLibraries.org exist: to make sure that when these fights happen, we’re ready.

If you believe in the right to read, in free public libraries, and in fighting back against censorship, become a monthly donor to the EveryLibrary Institute, support other campaigns on FundLibraries.org, or even use FundLibraries.org for your own grassroots fundraising campaigns

Together, we’re not just saving libraries. We’re defending democracy — one book, library, and community at a time.

Want help launching your library’s next campaign?

Contact us — we’re here to help. Learn more or start a campaign today at FundLibraries.org.