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A new library director will be stepping in at the Fairhope Public Library as it faces challenges to books included in its collection.
The board voted to hire Robert Gourlay, assistant director since 2022, to replace outgoing director Tamara Dean, who announced her retirement earlier this year.
The change in leadership comes as certain groups are challenging the leadership of the Fairhope library board and calling on the Fairhope City Council to make changes in hopes new board members would carry out their agenda.
Gourlay has been with the Fairhope library for the majority of his career, starting in 2015.
Rob Gourlay
“I briefly interned at the Bay Minette library and I have some experience at the University of Alabama libraries while a graduate student, but this has been the bulk of my experience,” Gourlay said. “It really is a special opportunity for me. This is a place I know very well. It’s a really unique and special library, and our Fairhope community cares about it a lot. It’s very nice to be so familiar with the staff already stepping into this new role.”
Gourlay grew up in a military family and moved around the U.S. as a child. He attended Florida State University and received a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs. He then went on to receive his Master’s in Library and Information Studies from the University of Alabama.
Gourlay joined the Fairhope Public Library in 2015, as head of the circulation department before being promoted to assistant director in 2022. During his time at the library, Gourlay has helped coordinate the 2024 renovations to the second floor of the library, provided IT services, managed the library website and marketing, written grants, and completed various other projects over his almost 10 years of service.
The library has adopted policies to align with new state aid requirements from the Alabama Public Library Service, but that hasn’t satisfied Clean Up Alabama, Moms for Liberty and like-minded individuals who have criticized Dean and the board, particularly board chair Anne Johnson, for deciding to keep certain books available in youth sections of the library.
The groups have identified two books specifically, “Grown” by Tiffany Jackson and “Parts and Hearts” by Jenson Hillebrand as examples of what they say are inappropriate books for minors that have been kept in place.
While changes could come at the board level, Gourlay said he plans on continuing to operate under the policies as Dean has.
“We are guided by our board of trustees who approve our policies,” Gourlay said. “We have a framework that we operate within … As things stand we’ll continue to go through each of those situations as they come up. If things change down the road, we would have to adapt as it comes. My plan is to continue the same policies that Tamara has as far as how as we handle those situations. “
