Prattville Main Branch Closes for Safety Repairs; Services Suspended Friday

The Prattville main branch of the Autauga–Prattville Public Library closed for safety repairs on Friday afternoon, leaving the system’s primary public space temporarily shuttered while crews brace walls and address foundation issues. “An announcement will be made when services resume, the library system's website said,” directing patrons to await further updates from the Autauga–Prattville Public Library (APPL).

Board-level discussions in December laid out the scale of the problem. Ray Boles, president of the library's board of trustees, told the Autauga County Commission that the Prattville building could not be repaired and that replacing the facility would require a new branch, an effort the board estimated would cost between $4 million and $6 million.

Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie described the immediate municipal response, saying, “There are plans in place to repair the building. Walls will be braced to address the problem. The repairs will be temporary. A portion of the building will remain closed to the public after the repairs, Gillespie said.” Those temporary measures aim to make limited areas safe for staff access while officials evaluate longer-term options.

The structure at the center of the dispute dates to 1972, when the Prattville Public Library moved into a newly constructed 12,500-square-foot building that later became headquarters for the city–county system. Library officials and local leaders have discussed replacing or upgrading the building since at least the early 1990s. The main branch closed in September after concerns were raised about the building’s structural condition; patrons have since been collecting holds and materials at the building’s loading dock.

The Autauga–Prattville Public Library system — formally created by joint resolution of the Autauga County Commission and the Prattville City Council on December 17, 1974 — lists four branches: the Prattville main branch and satellite locations in Autaugaville, Billingsley and Marbury. Systemwide holdings are listed at 79,107 volumes with annual circulation of 155,693 items, figures preserved on local library listings.

Community-level services continue through APPL’s branch network and digital platforms. The Autaugaville Public Library at 207 Taylor Street serves roughly 792 residents and can be reached at 334-365-9322. Autaugaville offers a small book collection, public computers, photocopying and faxing, community events, WiFi printing and access to digital media platforms including Hoopla, and APPL system pages list services such as Book Bundles, Books by Mail, curbside pick-up, interlibrary loan, notary services and a Fine Forgiveness Program.

During the Prattville main branch closure, patrons should confirm current pickup and program arrangements through the Autauga–Prattville Public Library’s Branches & Hours, Closed Dates and News pages; the system’s online notice reiterated that an announcement will be made when in-person services resume. Local leaders including Mayor Bill Gillespie and board president Ray Boles remain the primary officials cited in planning for both the interim bracing work and the longer-term capital estimate.