Angie Hayden
@angiehay.bsky.social
Artist. Read Freely Alabama co-founder. Probably looking for my glasses.
Reposted by Angie Hayden
"It's incredibly unfortunate to see that the APLS board that is supposed to be supporting libraries is instead attacking them."
Fairhope received its $42K check Monday. The private donations will help replenish the lost state funding from the placement of books. Next year could mean another private fundraising effort - here's what is at stake: www.al.com/news/2025/12...
Will Fairhope library lose funding again in 2026? Donation replaces state cuts
Fairhope Public Library officially received $42,230 in donations to replace state funding cut by APLS board over dispute about youth section books.
www.al.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:56 PM
"It's incredibly unfortunate to see that the APLS board that is supposed to be supporting libraries is instead attacking them."
🥰🎉
It was our honor to present a check for $42,280 for the Fairhope Public Library last night. Thank you to all of you who stepped up to do what APLS would not.
www.alreporter.com/2025/12/02/r...
www.alreporter.com/2025/12/02/r...
Read Freely donates $40K check to Fairhope Library in lieu of state funds
The Fairhope library has already lost more than $20,000 in state aid.
www.alreporter.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:06 PM
🥰🎉
Reposted by Angie Hayden
After referring to the Fairhope Public Library as a "bad apple," "bad actors" and "acting in bad faith," APLS/ALGOP Chairman John Wahl said he plans to personally read and review all ten books in question and report back to the APLS board with his findings.
alabamareflector.com/2025/11/21/a...
alabamareflector.com/2025/11/21/a...
Alabama library board bans 'gender ideology;' punts on Fairhope funding | Alabama Reflector
The administrative code changes go beyond the original proposal, and not only deal with gender ideology but also library cards for minors.
alabamareflector.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:21 PM
After referring to the Fairhope Public Library as a "bad apple," "bad actors" and "acting in bad faith," APLS/ALGOP Chairman John Wahl said he plans to personally read and review all ten books in question and report back to the APLS board with his findings.
alabamareflector.com/2025/11/21/a...
alabamareflector.com/2025/11/21/a...
Reposted by Angie Hayden
⚠️This investigative piece out of Maine shows a very familiar playbook from the same national, billionaire-backed organizations.⚠️
➡️A mirror what is happening in our public libraries.
➡️ A preview of what has already begun in our public school boards. www.centralmaine.com/2025/11/19/p...
➡️A mirror what is happening in our public libraries.
➡️ A preview of what has already begun in our public school boards. www.centralmaine.com/2025/11/19/p...
Parents’ rights groups, backed by conservative funders, bring fight to Maine school boards
The Gardiner-area school board is one of many across the state being confronted with organized, sometimes disruptive, efforts to remake education.
www.centralmaine.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:07 PM
⚠️This investigative piece out of Maine shows a very familiar playbook from the same national, billionaire-backed organizations.⚠️
➡️A mirror what is happening in our public libraries.
➡️ A preview of what has already begun in our public school boards. www.centralmaine.com/2025/11/19/p...
➡️A mirror what is happening in our public libraries.
➡️ A preview of what has already begun in our public school boards. www.centralmaine.com/2025/11/19/p...
"This reiterates points made by intellectual freedom advocates over the last several years: there are not obscene materials for minors available in school nor public libraries. Such materials are illegal and not available to distribute nor purchase for those institutions." 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
‼️A huge win for the freedom to read!‼️
bookriot.com/penguin-rand...
bookriot.com/penguin-rand...
"None Of These Books Are Obscene": Judge Strikes Down Much of Florida's Book Ban Bill
In a major win for intellectual freedom, a judge rules against Florida law that led to removing hundreds of books from school libraries.
bookriot.com
August 14, 2025 at 9:06 PM
"This reiterates points made by intellectual freedom advocates over the last several years: there are not obscene materials for minors available in school nor public libraries. Such materials are illegal and not available to distribute nor purchase for those institutions." 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Reposted by Angie Hayden
This week: Talkin' book bans in 'Bama with @angiehay.bsky.social of Read Freely Alabama, leadership failures on climate change across the South, and ... Kid Rock's patriotic flag-a-palooza Rock The Country.
Headlights: Voices from The Progressive South: Ep. 13: Fighting Alabama Book Bans
SYNOPSIS: Angie Hayden became an accidental activist when she stood up against censorship in her local library in Prattville, Alabama. Now she’s a founder of a statewide coalition called Read Freely A...
sites.libsyn.com
July 21, 2025 at 7:23 PM
This week: Talkin' book bans in 'Bama with @angiehay.bsky.social of Read Freely Alabama, leadership failures on climate change across the South, and ... Kid Rock's patriotic flag-a-palooza Rock The Country.
We made it! Yesterday was sine die in Alabama, and we are exhausted but incredibly proud to say that HB4, the Jail the Librarians bill, is officially dead. But there's still work to do. Read Read Freely Alabama's end of lege statement here: #readfreelyalabama
For the past 3 months, thousands of Alabamians have joined Read Freely Alabama to work tirelessly to ensure that two bills that would have had devastating effects on libraries, HB4 and SB6, did not pass.
Read our post-legislative session statement here:
www.readfreelyalabama.org/2025_legisla...
Read our post-legislative session statement here:
www.readfreelyalabama.org/2025_legisla...
Anti-library bills dead in 2025 Alabama Legislative Session
Supporting the Right to Read in All Alabama Libraries
www.readfreelyalabama.org
May 15, 2025 at 8:43 PM
We made it! Yesterday was sine die in Alabama, and we are exhausted but incredibly proud to say that HB4, the Jail the Librarians bill, is officially dead. But there's still work to do. Read Read Freely Alabama's end of lege statement here: #readfreelyalabama
Reposted by Angie Hayden
We all want to protect children from inappropriate and sexually explicit material but it isn’t illegal for minors to read books on puberty, sex education, consent, or other complex topics. But that’s exactly what APLS Chair John Wahl is trying to do.
Read our op-ed: www.al.com/news/2025/05...
Read our op-ed: www.al.com/news/2025/05...
John Wahl is gaslighting Alabamians about library content: op-ed
It’s time we stand up to Wahl and demand his resignation.
www.al.com
May 13, 2025 at 2:39 AM
We all want to protect children from inappropriate and sexually explicit material but it isn’t illegal for minors to read books on puberty, sex education, consent, or other complex topics. But that’s exactly what APLS Chair John Wahl is trying to do.
Read our op-ed: www.al.com/news/2025/05...
Read our op-ed: www.al.com/news/2025/05...
Other things I've been up to...🖌️🎨
February 6, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Other things I've been up to...🖌️🎨
Spent yesterday on the University of Alabama campus for a great library event. I love today's generation of young folk. They're gonna save us all. #readfreelal
February 6, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Spent yesterday on the University of Alabama campus for a great library event. I love today's generation of young folk. They're gonna save us all. #readfreelal
