North Shelby Library director resigns after board takeover

North Shelby Library director Kate Etheredge announced her resignation Monday after a year of controversy at the library that ended in a takeover of the board by the Shelby County State Legislative Delegation.

Etheredge, who served 15 years at the library, is taking a new job to be assistant director at the Homewood Public Library.

The controversy at the North Shelby Library began last year after some residents took issue with an LGBTQ+ pride display at the library.

The board at the time rejected a new policy that would have given it more control over library displays, with a majority of patrons present supporting the move. But the decision further angered the upset residents and lawmakers, particularly State Rep. Susan DuBose, R-Hoover.

DuBose joined State Rep. Arnold Mooney, R-Indian Springs, in crafting a passing a local bill during the legislative session that completely transformed the library board.

The NSL district is unique in that it is not a city or county library, but a district specially created by legislation that included a process for direct election of the board members by the public.

The Shelby County delegation has turned that on its head, now making the appointment of board members themselves, ousting those board members that had made the decision not to adopt the new policy. The new board was sworn in last month.

“The Director of Library Services for the North Shelby Library District has made a personal decision to resign and has submitted her resignation letter, effective September 6, 2024. The NSL Board thanks Kate Etheredge for her many years of dedicated service and for her valuable assistance to the new NSL Board of Directors. We wish Kate every success in her future endeavors,” the board posted in a statement on its website. 

Morgan Barnes, president of the ousted board, told 280 Living that the takeover of the library board resulted in a great loss of Etheredge’s experience.

“To lose someone that professional and that proficient to be basically forced out the door because of a political agenda is a shame,” Barnes said.