Should Anchorage libraries protect the ability of 12-year-olds to access books that provide graphic advice on how to engage in anal sex, detailed instructions on ways to find online porn and tips about various ways to create sexy photos of their bodies to share online? Are libraries places where minors should be allowed unfettered access to explore myriad sexual fantasies and gender identities?

According to Anchorage Library Director Virginia McClure, and two members of the Anchorage Library Board, the answer is a resounding, “yes.”

This was the takeaway from a June 7 meeting of the ever shrinking and now powerless Anchorage Library Advisory Board.

A formal challenge to the controversial sex book, “Let’s Talk About It,” was the occasion for the meeting, which shed light on the guiding principles by which Anchorage’s publicly funded library system runs.

Sandra Graham, the former chief of staff for Mayor Dave Bronson, initiated the book challenge, claiming the library may be violating Alaska State laws against disseminating indecent material to minors by locating “Let’s Talk About It” in the youth section. Since March, she has been attempting to have the graphic sex book moved to an adult section where minors could not stumble upon it.

Library Director McClure has adamantly refused to relocate the book, claiming it is entirely appropriate for children, ages 12 and up. McClure was appointed by Bronson last year, after three other conservative library director nominees were rejected by the Assembly.

According to library policy, if the library director refuses to remove or relocate a challenged book, citizens have a right to appeal the decision to the Library Advisory Board.

Once the Anchorage Assembly caught wind of Graham’s challenge, and the possibility that the conservative-leaning library board might actually remove the book from the youth section, it quickly moved to disempower the library board and reduce it to a merely advisory body, with all authority invested in the library director. That was done in May as the just latest effort to neutralize the library board.

For months, the Anchorage Assembly has also refused to approve any of the conservative mayor’s nominees to fill four vacant seats on the nine-member library board, which means there are only five current members – three who lean conservative, and two hard-leftists. That would still be enough votes to address the challenged book, if the Assembly had not taken all power away from the library board.

During the recent meeting, Graham expressed frustration over what now appeared to be an incoherent process by which citizens could challenge books.

Assistant Municipal Attorney Jessica Willoughby spelled this out to the library board at the start of the June 7 hearing. She said the board could hear the book challenge but could no longer make a determination on its status, despite the fact that official library policy explicitly acknowledges the board’s power to do so.

Library Board Member Doug Weimann noted that the board is now “just figure heads,” and suggested that McClure had worked behind the scenes to gut their authority to override her.

“It’s a little unsettling,” Weimann said. “I just don’t think the public realizes how much power you wield now. Congratulations.”

At that point in the contentious meeting, fellow board member Dennis Dupras packed his things and left in disgust. Weimann said he was “very disappointed in the current director,” and then left the board members’ table to take a seat among the audience for the rest of the meeting.

Two other board members, Debra Bronson and Chair Cristy Willer remained seated along with McClure, while member Alice Qannik Glenn continued to participate via Zoom.

Sandy Graham expressed frustration over what now appeared to be an incoherent process by which citizens could challenge books.

Library board member Qannik Glenn chimed in saying she recognizes that aspects of the book may not be up to everyone’s taste, but she appreciated the “overarching themes” of inclusivity and acceptance.

Board Chair Willer clarified that the new process basically ends with whatever McClure decides.

One member of the audience wanted to know whether McClure had ever taken into consideration that the challenged book may actually violate state law regarding the dissemination of indecent material to minors. If it does, what’s to prevent some parents from suing the city, he asked.

“I’m concerned as a citizen that there is no legal review,” the audience member added.

The assistant municipal attorney refused to offer any legal opinion during the meeting, which prompted Graham to reiterate that the library is duty bound to follow both city and state laws.

Graham then listed a number of issues her book challenge has exposed, namely that children are given unfettered access to check out books, but parents can’t be informed of what they have checked out. This fundamentally undermines a parent’s ability to consent or even monitor what their child is exposed to, she noted.

Library board member Qannik Glenn chimed in, saying she recognizes that aspects of the book may not be up to everyone’s taste, but she appreciated the “overarching themes” of inclusivity and acceptance of all sexual identities and body types. Such books, she said, “support children.”

Board Chair Willer defended those sections which instruct teens on how to engage in sexting, practice anal sex and find their favorite online porn stars.

Weimann, now sitting with the audience, retorted that the book is “pornographic,” and “damages children.” He said placing it in a children’s section is “criminal,” and called on the city attorney to summon the courage to give a legal opinion on the suitability of the book for children in light of city and state law.

She refused.

Board Chair Willer spoke towards the end of the one-hour meeting, saying she had read the book cover-to-cover and found it to be “engaging.”

She defended the sections which instruct teens on how to engage in sexting, practice anal sex and locate their favorite online porn stars.

“It seemed to me that it uses teen appropriate language and discussion around issues that are appropriate for teenagers,” Willer asserted, adding that the book makes “information accessible” in a way that a child’s parent may not be able or willing to convey.

With regard to the book’s porn and sexting instructions, Willer said she sees those parts through “different lenses.”

“I understand that I’m seeing this from my lens, but through that lens it didn’t seem to me that the book was promoting these behaviors really, at all,” she said. “It was acknowledging that some kids will sext and that some kids will engage in sexual behavior and some kids will watch pornography. And if they’re doing that, is there a way to do that safely and produce less harm – emotional, physical, whatever?”

In Willer’s estimation, the book gives kids pointers on how to engage in these activities more safely.

 “I think that is very useful for kids – for teenagers – who are trying to find their way around that period of time that is so confusing,” she said.

At the end of the meeting, an obviously frustrated Weimann asked Library Director McClure if the library filters porn on its computers, which she affirmed it did.

He then asked, if it were up to her, would she remove those filters?

McClure shot back: “I don’t think that’s a relevant question.”

TAKING ACTION

— 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

— Click here to contact Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson.

Click here to support Alaska Watchman reporting.