Tuscaloosa Public Library Cutting Services In Northport Due To Lack Of Funding

Editor's Note: This story has been updated with additional quotes and context.

NORTHPORT, AL — The Tuscaloosa Public Library will cut certain services to residents of Northport due to a lack of funding from City Hall.

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Tuscaloosa Public Library Board of Trustees Chair Jeff Hinton informed Northport city officials this week that the library system will be suspending Overdrive and Libby services for Northport residents beginning on March 3, along with removing the book vending machine located at Northport City Hall beginning on March 1.

As Patch previously reported, the book vending machine first debuted in City Hall in August 2023 and was viewed a sign of improvement of the relationship between Northport and the library following years of tensions over funding. Northport also recently contributed $432,966 to capital projects over the past four years to help fund critical improvements like a new roof and flooring.

Hinton said the library system will continue to offer Northport residents with access to the equivalent physical resources that Overdrive and Libby provide at its main branch and at the Weaver Bolden branch.

"It is not a secret that the Tuscaloosa Public Library has been facing financial challenges over the last few years," Hinton wrote. "As you know, the City of Northport voted to contribute to the Tuscaloosa Public Library a total of $186,000 for 2025. This amount represents approximately 1/10 of the amount contributed by the other governmental funding partners. Unfortunately, as a way to cut costs, the Tuscaloosa Public Library Board of Trustees has voted to suspend the Overdrive and Libby services for the residents of Northport."

Hinton went on to say that the Board of Trustees hopes Northport will allocate a "respectful amount of funding" for programming that benefits the community.

"I am truly saddened by this decision," District 4 Councilwoman Jamie Dykes told Patch. "With a background in and a passion for education, I think it’s unfortunate because the library provides essential services for the community. I do not sit on the Finance Committee that made this determination. I would gladly sit down as a full council to discuss this so all citizens have representation in these decisions."

The Tuscaloosa Public Library recently presented a six-year per capita budget plan to City, County, and Northport officials that outlined a path for what the library system viewed as "sustainable" funding.

The library requested an additional $112,015 from Northport for the library’s 2025 operational budget for a total request of $288,015.

Instead, Northport city officials approved $186,560 in funding for 2025, which is compared to the $50,000 budgeted for the library in 2019.

Here's a breakdown of the funding provided by the library system:

*City = Tuscaloosa

The library said in a statement to Patch that while its leadership engaged with most city and county officials, Northport engagement was limited despite multiple attempts to schedule meetings.

Some Northport officials took issue with the library's portrayal of the funding dynamics, with City Administrator Glenda Webb pointing out that the city has contributed a total of $1.25 million to the library system since 2019 — including just short of $418,000 for capital improvements.

As a result of the funding discussions stalling, the Tuscaloosa Public Library Board of Trustees unanimously proceeded with its decision, recognizing that without Northport's full participation, the plan would be unsustainable and jeopardize other funders' commitments.

TPL leadership says this would only worsen the library's already critical funding situation.

"City of Northport residents will continue to have access to the equivalent physical resources that Overdrive and Libby provide, in addition to other electronic resources," the library system said. "These resources can be accessed through the Main and Weaver Bolden Branch Libraries, the Bookmobile, and the book vending machines located at Faucett Brothers and Bobby Miller Activity Centers."

The Tuscaloosa Public Library said its service will remain uninterrupted for Tuscaloosa County Schools located within the City of Northport, including SORA and other school programs.

"The Tuscaloosa Public Library Board of Trustees hopes that this decision will prompt Northport city officials to reconsider their level of support for the valuable resources the library provides to the Northport community," TPL said in its statement.

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