Matanuska-Susitna Borough has put its book review policy on hold after a meeting marked by disruptions and name-calling. The library policy allowed residents to recommend the permanent removal of books. The decision to suspend the policy came after a mid-January book reconsideration hearing that ended in chaos.
Borough manager Mike Brown announced the indefinite suspension of the book review policy, emphasizing the need to reassess the process. The primary objective is to shift the focus toward fostering civil discourse in future discussions regarding challenged books. In addition to the suspension, a borough library advisory board meeting scheduled for Feb. 13 has been canceled.
The borough's decision to suspend the policy followed a meeting on Jan. 18, where residents sought to remove two young adult fiction books, "Red Hood" by Elana K. Arnold and "Identical" by Ellen Hopkins. Despite a committee ruling to keep the books, the meeting was chaotic.
Palmer resident Jackie Goforth initiated the review due to concerns about the book's sexual content. During the meeting, attendees, including borough assembly member Dee McKee, frequently interrupted the proceedings, even though public comments were not allowed according to committee rules.
When Goforth asked if any audience members wanted to speak against committee rules, McKee volunteered and approached the podium. Hugh Leslie, the borough's recreation manager and meeting chair, suddenly declared the panel's decision and ended the meeting despite protests from McKee and loud arguments from the crowd.
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Goforth had already challenged "Red Hood" in a hearing held in November 2023. Goforth expressed dissatisfaction in a letter addressed to Wasilla Mayor Glenda Ledford, asserting that the Nov. 8 meeting violated her First Amendment rights. Goforth clarified that her objection to the book was driven by the placement of a novel with explicit content in an area intended for teenagers.
Six days after the meeting, Brown issued a statement suspending the review process. Brown stated that while he recognizes the importance of having a system for patrons to contest materials, he believed proceeding with the current process is not worthwhile until an alternative method is devised.
The borough manager announced that library staff will put up signs indicating that the young adult section is meant for those aged 16 to 17. This clarification is intended to make it apparent that some materials may not be suitable for teens aged 14 or 15.
This recent suspension and clarification are part of an ongoing dispute over controversial books in Mat-Su. Last year, library officials in Wasilla temporarily relabeled their young adult fiction section after raising similar concerns. Unlike the borough's, the school district has its own process for reviewing challenged books.
The district removed 56 books following its reconsideration process in 2023. This led to a lawsuit filed by civil rights organizations on behalf of eight Mat-Su students. The lawsuit contended that the district violated the plaintiff's constitutional rights in removing the books.
Lawyer Savannah Fletcher, representing the plaintiffs alongside the ACLU of Alaska, requested an injunction to have the books returned on Tuesday. In response, the school district stated on Wednesday that they had received and are currently reviewing the motion.
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