Marking the beginning of National Library Week, the Mat-Su School District sent a letter to parents about removing books from school libraries. Last week’s removal of specific books from the schools is one of many efforts to restrict access to books across the country.
According to an American Library Association, or ALA, press release dated April 24th, libraries in every state faced another year of unprecedented attempts to ban books. The ALA notes that it tracked the highest number of censorship reports in 2022 since the association began compiling data 20 years ago. ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 2,571 unique titles targeted for censorship, a 38% increase from the 1,858 titles in 2021. The ALA also notes that most of the targeted books were written by or about members of the LGBTQIA+ community and people of color.
Five of this year’s top 13 most challenged novels compiled by the ALA are also on the Mat-Su School District’s challenge list.
Jillian Morrissey, Chief Communication Officer with the Borough School District, included the letter in an email correspondence, but did not answer any further questions. There are still no answers about the standards to which the books were evaluated for the initial list. Also unclear is who was on the committee that selected those books. There is no explanation why the books were removed before the evaluation committee was seated.
The letter confirms that there are 56 books on the list and does not differ from the list KTNA acquired before it was released to the public, except for two columns. The original list contained spaces for ratings by BookLook and Common Sense Media. Many of the listed books had BookLook numbers next to them, referring to how offensive the content was deemed by the BookLook readers. A few also had remarks copied from Common Sense Media reviews.
Applications for the Mat-Su Borough School District Library Committee were accepted until Friday, April 21 at noon. This Committee will be responsible for evaluating the list of challenged books. According to the letter sent to parents, the District received 300 applications for the 13 positions on the Committee. There is no further information regarding what standards the Committee will use to evaluate the challenged books or if new books may be added to the list.
The letter further states that one parent or community member will be included from each of the seven board voting districts, to be selected by randomized lottery. Two certified staff members, two school board members, and two librarians will make up the remainder of the Committee.
According to the letter, the Committee will be seated this spring. Meeting dates will be determined once the Committee members have been selected.
The letter to parents and challenged book list can be viewed here: https://www.matsuk12.us/Page/48861
