At their meeting this month, the Mat-Su Library Board accepted the full list of materials for all Borough libraries, a task they had never taken on until now.
The Board supports libraries, provides advocacy, and is tasked with creating a library strategic plan and presenting it to the Borough Assembly. Until this month, the Board did not delve into materials for individual libraries.
Borough Community Development Director Jillian Morrissey says public testimony led to the monthly publication of the library materials list. And the Library Board members can provide review of any or all of the materials. She says it’s up to the individual Board members.
Morrissey notes that the Library Citizens’ Advisory Committee, or LCAC, is now only reviewing young adult books on the challenged list and will no longer consider books already shelved in the adult section. She says the Library Board could choose to do the same or find another path forward.
Incoming Library Board Chair Mary Fischer says librarians review 400 to 800 materials each month. The list in this month’s Board packet contained nearly 400 titles spanning all five Borough libraries. Librarians research the titles, read reviews of the books, and compare where other libraries shelve them.
This new protocol means the Board can pull any title destined for any of the five libraries for further review. However, some Board members are proposing an alternative way to review titles. Though not formalized yet, the alternative proposal would mean each library could determine the titles most appropriate for their individual community. However, Morrissey says this is challenging because the Borough libraries are funded with area-wide taxes.
Fischer says they will likely discuss the proposed alternative review process at a future meeting. The next Library Board meeting will be at the Sutton Library on October 14th.
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