FLORIDA, USA — Florida has officially joined multiple red states, including Alabama, Wyoming, Missouri and Texas by cutting ties with the American Library Association.
The Florida Department of State officially announced in October that it would "not allow grant project activities" associated with the ALA and its affiliates.
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization that promotes libraries and library education across the U.S. and internationally, including helping libraries train staff and obtain funding.
Libraries pay for ALA memberships, which grant them access to benefits, including discounts on educational and library materials as well as access to conferences and seminars for library staffers.
It's not yet clear what effect Florida's decision will have on its local libraries, but a spokesperson for Florida's ALA chapter, the Florida Library Association told Politico that the move would amount to a limitation being placed on Florida's libraries which would hurt their ability to serve residents.
The American Library Association has been targeted by conservative leaders amid efforts to control content made available in school libraries. A representative from Texas accused the ALA of spreading Marxism after the organization elected Emily Drabinski, a self-identified Marxist and lesbian, as president. Library officials in Alabama even publicly called for Drabinski to be impeached.
ALA's policies against restricting access to books based on age also clashed with Conservatives amid efforts to restrict content involving race, gender, and sexuality in school libraries.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio also called for ALA's funding to be cut amid accusations that one of its members refused to provide event space for Christian book publisher Brave Books. ALA and the library have both denied those allegations.
