Anchorage’s new chief librarian, Virginia McClure, doesn’t see a problem with young teens reading library books that include graphic instructions on how to have anal sex, explore sexual fantasies and gender identities, create their own personal digital porn or find favorite online pornography sites.
The book, “Let’s Talk About It,” is currently available for children in libraries run by the Municipality of Anchorage. It’s being formally challenged, however, by Anchorage resident Sandra Graham, who claims the library may be violating Alaska State laws against disseminating indecent material to minors.
Graham is the former chief of staff for Mayor Dave Bronson who nominated her to serve as the city’s chief librarian only to have the hard-left Assembly reject her nomination.
Graham’s challenge of the highly sexualized “Let’s Talk About It” book will be considered during the May 17 meeting of the Anchorage Library Advisory Board, although recent moves by Anchorage Assembly have made it difficult – and perhaps impossible – for the library board to remove the book from the children’s section.
The book has stirred intense controversy across the nation and around Alaska. It includes graphic depictions of sexual acts and positions throughout.
The nine-member library board currently has four vacant seats, which Bronson has repeatedly attempted to fill only to have his nominees rejected by the leftist supermajority on the Assembly.
Among the five sitting library board members, three are conservative leaning, which would normally indicate the possibility of removing the objectionable book. On May 9, however, just one week before the library board’s May 17 meeting, the Assembly quickly passed a resolution which prohibits any municipal boards from voting on official business unless a majority of the total seats on the board votes in the affirmative. Now, for the library board to make a final decision on the fate of a book (or to approve anything at all) it needs a unanimous vote of the five sitting members.
Since Library Director McClure has rejected Graham’s challenge to “Let’s Talk About It,” the board has little wiggle room to override her decision.
The book, however, has stirred intense controversy across the nation and around Alaska. It includes graphic depictions of sexual acts and positions throughout, along with comments like, “…there’s nothing wrong with enjoying some porn; it’s a fun sugary treat…” One section of the book actually encourages youth to explore anal sex.
“Both practical and pleasurable, this tight flexible hole serves two purposes!” the book asserts. “This is the entrance to your bowels, the passageway for getting food waste (poop) outta your body. The opening is ALSO chock-full of sensitive nerves, making it a primo erogenous zone for touching and penetrating.”
Remarkably, McClure wrote a lengthy defense of the book in a letter responding to Graham’s formal challenge.
“Upon reading and discussing the book, we agreed that, while not to everyone’s taste, the book is appropriate for ages 14-18, depending on a teen’s maturity,” McClure asserted.
“After receiving your statement, a committee of three librarians was convened to consider your request,” McClure wrote on April 6. “We each read the book carefully, looked at reviews and circulation statistics, and then held a group discussion.”
McClure then went on to quote a host of left-leaning library and book review groups that support the sex book as a source of “crucial information” and “helpful resources” for teens who need to learn about the “complexity of relationships” with “no-nonsense information on sex and sexuality.”
“Upon reading and discussing the book, we agreed that, while not to everyone’s taste, the book is appropriate for ages 14-18, depending on a teen’s maturity,” McClure asserted. “We gave consideration to the cartoon style of the artwork, the high school setting and age of the characters depicted, and the use of relatable language for the target age group. It is fittingly shelved in the Young Adult/Teen section of the library; books for that age range include a deep, broad, and diverse spectrum of titles. The public library acquires materials for a wide range of ages, tastes, values, and interests to meet the needs of our very diverse community. There is no single standard which can be applied to all acquisition decisions. Some materials may be judged primarily in terms of artistic merit or scholarship; others are selected to satisfy recreational or informational needs of the community.”
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
Graham responded with a letter to McClure the “Anonymous Members of the Ad Hoc Review Committee.
“I have also read the book carefully and critically, looked at reviews, and held group discussion,” Graham said. “With my expertise and experience as an educator, counselor, parent, grandparent, library patron, and human being, I have to respectfully disagree.”
Graham reiterated her concern that the library’s dissemination of the book may violate Alaska laws against providing indecent sexual material to minors. She also asked the library to involve the city attorney to review the legality of placing the book in the youth section.
McClure declined to involve the city attorney, noting that the attorney has asked the library to go through its full reconsideration process before taking it to that level.
The library board will meet Wednesday, May 17, at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the book. Whether it can make any formal decisions, however, is in question due to the Assembly’s new policy requiring five votes for any official actions.
TAKING ACTION
— The Library Advisory Board Meeting is open to the public. It takes place at 5:30 p.m. on May 17 in the Learning Commons room on the fourth floor of the Loussac Library.
— Those who wish to apply to serve on the library board, can apply here. https://www.muni.org/Departments/Mayor/Boards/Pages/default.aspx
— Click here to contact Anchorage Municipal Attorney Anne Helzer, email Anne.Helzer@anchorage.gov
— To contact the Library Advisory Board, call 907-343-2892 or email DLGOVBCLLibraryAdvisoryBoard@anchorageak.gov
— To contact Library Director Virginia McClure, email virginia.mcclure@anchorageak.gov or call 907-343-2892
