Formed in early 2024, the Library Citizens Advisory Committee or LCAC reviews challenged books in the Mat-Su Borough’s Public Libraries, recommending whether a book be removed from the library or relocated within the library. The committee was formed as a way to “incorporate citizens in the review process” whenever a book in the borough’s public libraries is challenged.
The process starts when a Mat-Su Borough resident fills out a “Library Material Reconsideration Request” and says a particular book is unfit for the borough library. From there, it gets proposed at an LCAC meeting where committee members vote on whether or not to review the book. If the majority of the committee votes yes, the borough buys copies of the book for each committee member to read before the next LCAC meeting the following month.
When they reconvene, LCAC members discuss and vote on a proposed action for the book. The committee either recommends the book stay where it is, be relocated to the adult section, or be removed from the library entirely. From there, the Borough’s Community and Development Director reviews the LCAC’s proposal and decides what action to take, if any.
Most recently, the LCAC voted almost unanimously to review the novel Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation. Written by Ari Folman and illustrated by David Polonsky, the book recounts Anne Frank’s experiences growing up and being forced into hiding during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.
Following a public records request, the initial complaint cited “obscene sexual activities and violence including child abuse” as their reason for challenging the book. The complaint failed to mention whether the individual who filed it read the book in its entirety. The complaint continued to list specific pages containing inappropriate content ranging from pages 1-309. It is important to note, that neither edition of Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation contains more than 160 pages.
From here the LCAC members will read the graphic novel, before reconvening March 10th to propose an action on the book before being sent to borough staff for a final decision.
