MSB Library Citizens’ Advisory Committee votes to disband

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Library Citizens' Advisory Committee (LCAC), a community-based group that sought to advise the Borough on challenged library materials in public libraries has disbanded during their December 8 meeting. Their work will be absorbed into the MSB’s Library Board.

“I’m relieved this committee is considering disbanding—because frankly, it has done nothing but waste taxpayer dollars,” said Kathy Kysar during public comments.

The resolution to sunset the committee cited that the committee had fulfilled its intended purpose of providing input and recommendations regarding challenged library materials, and disbanding the committee would streamline operations and align with organizational priorities.

Scott said the LCAC wasn’t disbanding because it was a failure, but to roll it back into the Library Board. “I do think that we’ve been moderately successful, especially in being part of the process.”

Initially the LCAC had recommended removal of books from the Young Adult sections of the libraries that had been deemed ‘objectionable’ and either move them to the Adult section or remove them from circulation. Their recommendations would then be sent to the MSB Administration for review and action. Recently, they were considering reviewing challenged books in the Adult Section, though it appears that never happened.

Scott said that no one on the LCAC had an appetite to remove books from the Adult shelves, though he disagreed with the idea because he had concerns that books are “available to 8-year-olds.”

Parents now have the option to get an email regarding what their children are checking out from the public libraries, even if they don’t go with them to the libraries.

Scott said there is discussion with Borough management and assembly leaders that some of the concerns the LCAC has with the library check-out system and finding a way to ensure that adult books are checked out only by adults would “change the whole dynamic of the discussion.” If adult books could only get in the hands of adults, he believes no one would have issue.

Scott tossed around the idea of a rating system similar to movies, saying that until something similar is in place, he would object to all the adult books, because he says children could still access them.

“I think everyone in this process seems to be on the same page-we want to right by kids and protect them,” said Scott. “Our committee is not the solution to this issue.”

Fellow member Camilla Potts said that she wasn’t surprised to see the LCAC disband and that she felt they lost their focus when started looking at books in the Adult section. “That’s such a fine line to walk.” She believed the LCAC was effective in bringing attention of challenged books to the community. “People have paid attention.”

Other members were in favor of allowing the Mat-Su Library Board to return to reviewing challenged books.

“I’m glad to see the resolution and I think that it’s going back to where it should be, with the Library Board. That’s where it always was in the past,” said LCAC member Nancy Bertels.

“I think in our community and in the political climate, this is a hot button issue no matter how you approach it,” said LCAC member Bruce Owens, adding that he dislikes the word ‘ban’ because that is implying the book is unavailable anywhere at any time and that he tries to remain objective and not to let his personal feelings decide whether a book should be removed, though he believed most were “poorly written.”

He went on to refer to a lawsuit in Texas in which the court ruled that banning books is government speech and doesn’t violate the First Amendment. “So us, as committee, as a government can remove books and it doesn’t violate the First Amendment.” He did say that he can see that court case going all the way to the Supreme Court.

The LCAC was approved by the Mat-Su Borough Assembly in April, 2024 and had been divisive to the community from the start. The ordinance, sponsored by Assembly members Dee McKee, Ron Bernier, and Dmitri Fonov, came after a Library Review Committee meeting in January, 2024 devolved into chaos and MSB Manager Mike Brown suspended the Library Challenged Materials policy.

There were concerns that the LCAC would appear as a non-Democratic process, to which then-Assemblyman Rob Yundt said: “There are seven different voices up here, and it takes four for anything to pass, and it takes five to override a veto. So this, in my opinion, does get the entire community involved,” before offering an amendment that there be one member from each district on the committee.

The committee came under scrutiny when MSB Assembly member Ron Bernier, who represents District 7, did not select one of the 13 candidates who applied, saying at an assembly meeting on May 21, 2024 that none met his specific qualifications, including not supporting the American Library Association “that pushes LGB agenda and woke ideology. Many that believe in the Ten Commandments, many that believe in family and country, two genders, and one God.” He instead went out of his district and selected pastor Chad Scott, from District 5, and met his qualities.

“Perception is reality. These appointments were made to set up a committee that will recommend banning books,” said Ruth Wood during that same meeting.

A look at the LCAC Dashboard shows that most of the challenges came from the same person, and most are fiction and non-fiction books meant for Young Adult and teen audiences, and have faced similar challenges in the lower 48, and were on the Mat-Su school district’s LCAC review list back in 2023. Most were retained in the libraries but being re-shelved to the Adult Sections.

“Here’s the kicker: book bans are pushed by a tiny minority,” said Kysar. “That is absurd. It is irrational. And it must stop.”