In response to tumultuous public hearings, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly has established a new committee to manage the review of challenged books in local libraries. On April 2, the Borough Assembly passed a resolution with a 5-2 majority to establish a seven-person committee consisting of borough residents.

The new seven-member committee, nominated by Borough Mayor Edna DeVries and confirmed by the Assembly, marks a departure from the previous committee, which included librarians and members of the library advisory panel.

Three Assembly members, including Dee McKee, representing areas of Wasilla and Palmer; Dmitri Fonov, representing Wasilla; and Robert Bernier, representing Trapper Creek, proposed the new borough committee and the process for selecting its members. Additionally, Bill Gamble, representing Big Lake, and Robert Yundt, representing Wasilla, also voted in favor of the proposal.

Empowering Community Oversight

The reformation aims to decentralize decision-making and prioritize community input. Unlike its predecessor, the new committee will comprise borough residents selected for their expertise and understanding of local concerns. It will hold regular meetings to review challenged materials, incorporate public commentary, and provide recommendations to the community development director for final decisions.

The formation of this citizen advisory committee aligns with similar initiatives in the school district, where a committee is evaluating 56 challenged books. The change impacts the libraries in Big Lake, Talkeetna, Trapper Creek, Willow, and Sutton. City-operated libraries in Palmer and Wasilla have their systems for reviewing challenged books. The new committee aims to provide community control over access to potentially controversial books, addressing concerns about sexual content. 

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Concerns and Public Feedback

The shift comes amidst ongoing debates over book policies across Mat-Su, including recent controversies in Wasilla and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. Concerns have been raised regarding the potential politicization of book selections and their impact on personal freedom.

While some assembly members support this shift for its potential to establish 'common sense' policies, other members like Nowers and Hale express concern over the politicization of book selection processes.

The public feedback on the ordinance was divided, with a slight majority opposing it. Critics expressed concerns about potential violations of First Amendment rights and the infringement on individuals' freedom to choose their reading materials.

Many argued that public libraries should cater to diverse preferences and should not be subject to the values of a select few. Some questioned why complaints about challenged books mostly originated from libraries in Wasilla and Palmer rather than those directly under the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

Debate Ensues Over Removal of Challenged Books

The ACLU of Alaska filed a lawsuit on behalf of Mat-Su students in November 2023. During a lengthy session on Monday, attorneys representing the ACLU of Alaska and Northern Justice Project debated with a lawyer representing the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District over whether the district can remove challenged books prior to a review process determining their validity.

The ACLU and Northern Justice Project sought a preliminary injunction from U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason to return the books to school library shelves, arguing that students have been and continue to be harmed by the district's policy. The district removed all 56 challenged books while a Library Citizens Advisory Committee reviewed them, with only 18 books fully reviewed so far. Some titles flagged include "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" and "The Lovely Bones." One book, "It Ends With Us" by Colleen Hoover, was deemed obscene and permanently removed.

The district contended that federal courts should not intervene in local school district policy at this stage and challenges to the policy should wait until all books have been reviewed. However, Savannah Fletcher argued that the district must demonstrate significant content-based reasons before removing books to avoid violating students' First Amendment rights. Gleason acknowledged the complexity of the issue and promised to issue a decision promptly.

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