Mat-Su Student Advisory Board passes Library Students Advisory Committee

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District (MSBSD) Student Advisory Board (SAB)/Student Government Association (SGA) has formed its own Library Student Advisory Committee.

The MSBSD has a Citizens’ Library Advisory Committee, which was formed in August of 2023. That committee has read and reviewed two dozen books so far, and has recommended removal of three books. The MSBSD has followed their recommendations, removing those three titles from school library shelves.

The SAB’s Library Committee will review books under consideration for removal by the LCAC, with the purpose being to articulate student viewpoints in review statements, which must include the outcome of the committee’s vote on the book’s legality, the student perspective on the book’s value or lack thereof in libraries, the majority, and/or concurring and dissenting opinion on the book, and analysis of the learning value the book may offer.

“The decision to create the Library Student Advisory Committee stems from the MSBSD Student Advisory Board/Student Government Association’s commitment to maximizing student representation in as many aspects of the education community as possible. The SAB/SGA’s Executive Board believes it is important to involve students in decisions regarding the books available in our schools,” says SAB Representative Ben Kolendo.