In a surprising turn of events, the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library system in Alabama has come under fire for mistakenly flagging a children's picture book as potentially containing explicit material. The book in question, "Read Me a Story, Stella," by Marie-Louise Gay, was included on a list of books labeled as sexually explicit during an internal review of the library system's collection. The mistake occurred due to an automated keyword search that flagged the word “gay” in the book's title, author name, or subject line.

Cindy Hewitt, the executive director of the library, explained that the purpose of the review was not to ban or censor books related to LGBTQ+ issues, gender identity, race, or racism. Instead, it was a preemptive measure to protect the collection from potential state efforts to ban books. The library system had been concerned about the increasing prevalence of book challenges across the country and wanted to ensure the integrity of its collection.

The review was conducted using a list of books provided by Clean Up Alabama, an organization claiming that Alabama libraries offer books that confuse children about sexuality and expose them to inappropriate material. However, "Read Me a Story, Stella," was not on their list of potentially inappropriate books. Groundwood Books, the book's publisher, called the situation “laughable” but emphasized the seriousness of the issue.

The Stella and Sam series, to which "Read Me a Story, Stella" belongs, has sold two million copies in 10 languages, according to the publisher. The book itself tells the story of Stella, the eldest sister, introducing her younger brother, Sam, to the joy of reading. It is a beloved children's book with no sexually explicit content whatsoever.

However, the incident has raised concerns about censorship and the targeting of LGBTQ+ content in libraries. Groundwood Books pointed out that other popular books like "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas, "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie, and "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell were also flagged as potentially inappropriate. The publisher argued that censorship is not about limiting access to specific books but about sending a message to children that certain ideas and people are not worthy of discussion or consideration.

While the library system faced backlash from internal staff and the local community, Governor Kay Ivey of Alabama mandated changes in library policies to receive state funding. The library system is currently awaiting guidance from the Alabama Public Library Service on the required changes. Hewitt expressed concerns that Alabama may be moving towards a more prevalent culture of book censorship.

Nevertheless, Hewitt assured the public that "Read Me a Story, Stella" remains available for loan at the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library system and emphasized that it is a cute and completely appropriate book. As of now, the library system has halted all collection reviews. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of careful and thoughtful consideration when conducting book reviews to avoid unnecessary controversy and protect the freedom of access to information for all library patrons.