There appears to be considerable confusion about how the Wasilla Public Library should resolve a heated controversy surrounding its sexually explicit books that are targeted to minors.
The issue dominated much of the three-hour Wasilla City Council meeting on Nov. 27, with members of the public testifying overwhelmingly against the library’s use of taxpayer dollars to purchase and shelve books that include detailed descriptions of various sex acts performed by or on minors.
At the city council’s request, Library Director Zane Treesh gave a presentation reviewing the library’s policies when it comes to reviewing, purchasing and classifying books.
While most of the protocols deal with whether books are popular and well-reviewed, Councilman Timothy Johnson pointed out that librarians still seem to rely on personal preferences when it comes to buying books for the public’s consumption.
Johnson noted that there are many New York Times Best Seller books, written by prominent and well-respected conservatives, which are nowhere to be found in the Wasilla Library. He pointed out that there are no books written by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and other renowned conservative Americans, and nothing by the Tuttle Twins, who publish extremely popular children’s books that deal with U.S. history, patriotism and traditional morality.
“Now, we here in Alaska – especially Wasilla – are a fairly conservative bunch,” he said. “What I see here in Wasilla is we’re not really hitting all of the audiences that we really should be … You don’t have any of the books that would interest me or a lot of our clientele. So, we have a problem.”
Johnson suggested that the library controversy stems from the fact that librarians specifically chose certain books as opposed to others.
“We got to where we are today, by what we selected,” he said. “We selected a certain category.”
Treesh couldn’t say why, but he admitted that library had unfortunately “overlooked” some of the conservative books mentioned by Johnson, and he suggested that the public submit formal requests for the library to purchase specific books of interest.
“We will try to rectify that,” he told the city council.
Councilman Ian Crafton also expressed concern over the library’s book selections, and asked Treesh to explain how he determines whether a book is too obscene for purchase.
“There’s a line where you can’t go get certain things from the library because it is obscene material,” Crafton told Treesh. “Where’s the line?”
Treesh couldn’t answer the question outright, but said the library looks at books “as a whole” when determining whether they are suitable. Books that contain sexually explicit passages can still pass muster so long as they have “redeemable” messages, he said.
The meeting raised larger concerns, however, when it comes to the types of books public libraries can legally provide to minors.
In particular, he highlighted “Red Hood,” the teen book that sparked the current controversy due to passages that contain explicit and detailed descriptions of various sex acts between teenagers.
Treesh claimed the book’s overarching theme dealt with the problem of sexual assault, and that perhaps this type of book is the only way some teenagers would be willing to grapple with the issue.
Councilman Crafton said he wants to look at revising the process regarding library book selections, a sentiment shared by most other council members. To that end, he said he is looking forward to adopting a new resolution to address these concerns.
The meeting raised larger concerns, however, when it comes to the types of books public libraries can legally provide to minors.
The recent letter to all Alaska librarians, written by Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor, was frequently cited during the meeting. Taylor’s letter cautions librarians against violating the Alaska statute against disseminating obscene material to minors, and warned that libraries are not immune to the law.
One woman shared how viewing sexually explicit material deeply wounded her as a child.
But Wasilla City Attorney Holly Wells said there seems to be a lot of confusion regarding how restrictive a library can be when it comes to removing or even relocating objectionable books. She cautioned the city council against possible violations of the First Amendment and said there have been court decisions against efforts to restrict access to certain library books.
Treesh told the city council that he has decided to just label all teen books as “adult” books for the time being. He doesn’t plan on moving the titles, but will simply place a sign in the teen section that states it is now an adult section. The largely semantic change won’t affect the ability of teens to peruse or check out the objectionable books, and Treesh did not indicate that the library has plans to relocate any of the books to existing adult shelves.
Ultimately, Treesh said he needs more guidance as to what types of books a library can legally provide to minors. He expressed hope that the Governor’s Advisory Council on Libraries, of which he is a member, would weigh in. The library council, however, has not met since March of 2022.
Following Treesh’s presentation, members of the public were given an opportunity to weigh in. They were overwhelmingly against the library stocking sexually explicit books in the teen section.
In a particularly uncomfortable moment of the meeting, Karen Lewis read aloud from one library book, “Identical,” which describes a daughter performing a sex act on her father.
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“Children don’t need that. You’re taking away their innocence,” said fellow concerned citizen Cris Tyree. “That’s wrong!”
One woman shared how viewing sexually explicit material deeply wounded her as a child.
“I don’t want to be a part of developing that in kids,” she told the city council.
Another woman said taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to underwrite these types of books.
“These are public, taxpayer funded libraries,” she said. “We don’t want to fund that. It’s our money.”
Near the end of the meeting, Mayor Glenda Ledford weighed in, echoing concerns about needing clarity on the legality of removing and/or relocating library books that are deemed obscene.
“We have to be very careful and concise about what we do,” she said. “When we get a legal opinion and know where we stand, then we will make a decision.”
TAKING ACTION
— Click here to request that the Wasilla Public Library purchase a certain book.
— To formally challenge a book, visit the library in person and ask to speak with the library director.
— Click here to contact Mayor Glenda Ledford or members of the Wasilla City Council.
Click here to support Alaska Watchman reporting.
54 Comments
Interesting that movies are still rated and going certain places on the internet an age is requested. There has been a history of some things x-rated and not suitable for minors. These things were restricted and did not interfere with the first amendment. Now all of a sudden it “might” be a first amendment right infringement to restrict these types of books to under age kids?
I felt that Mayor Ledford and Attorney Wells would rather let the smutty books be in the libraries. Ledford gives off this vibe that she’d like to cut people off if she could. My impression of Wells after listening to her talk was that she was playing on both sides of the fence because she has to legally, but she seemed to be leaning towards supporting the narrative to destroy the children. The conservative adults who spoke gave good points about the materials being allowed in the library. The Borough and the City of Wasilla need to act legally, lawfully and morally and refuse to jump in the pocket of the globalists who are bent on destroying the Children who are our future and gifts from Our Heavenly Father.
Next thing you know, the culture police in Wasilla will demand books about evolution, climate change, cosmology, and the Apollo moon landings be removed as well.
Bigot much there, Chuck? Even you must know the difference between explicit depictions of teenagers having sex and hard science.
Because as we all know, teenagers don’t have sex, right?
Tamra. Hard science? I thought that was against Christian mythology.
Did you read the article at all?? These books talk about sex between a girl and her dad. Come on man, this should not be in a public library using taxpayer money. It’s not about culture police, it’s about protecting kids.
Whether teenagers do or don’t have sex is really none of the library’s business. Minors are answerable to parents, not strangers providing porn. Please try to argue the issue and not obfuscate. If you think teenagers should get porn from the public library, or the school library, please argue that position. I’m dying to hear why you think breaking state law to do so is a good idea.
Folks like you making this political is disgusting.
Ok Groomer.
Joel’s article is missing the extremely important legal information presented by Wasilla City Attorney, Holly Wells during the Wasilla City Council meeting. For example, at 48:00 in the video of the meeting, City Attorney Holly Wells noted that currently, the Wasilla City Council has no authority over the Wasilla Public Library. Individual members have the right to complain or to suggest books for purchase only as individuals; if the Council wants to have more control over book selections, it must codify that power in statute. She also noted that the AG’s letter to librarians took a different tactic than what was in the legislative record: earlier, the AG had issued a legal opinion that one of the statutes he cited DID NOT APPLY TO PRINT BOOKS. But now, he claims that it does apply.
Further, in regards specifically to the book Red Hood that is the center of the controversy, Attorney Wells stated this at 1:10:01: “I would say, in my opinion, after reviewing all of the cases, this book is squarely within the confines of a protected material under the constitution… Does it meet the legal definition of obscenity? And I would say it doesn’t.”
View the video of the meeting here: https://cityofwasilla.civicweb.net/document/122143/?splitscreen=true&media=true
The legal distinction made was actually that the Mayor has the power to unilaterally move/remove material in the library. …Why doesn’t she?
The why question in an age of lawlessness and weak spined leaders, is answered by looking at the character of what we have become . It is now what we are reaping!
Tiffany–at what point in the Wasilla City Council meeting did the attorney say “that the Mayor has the power to unilaterally move/remove material in the library”? Under what authority would the Mayor have the censor public library materials? Please provide the timestamp to justify your claim. Thanks.
2,000?
You know, kicking grooming books out of kids section is one thing but I’m having a hard time believing there are 2,000 of them on the shelves.
Sounds like a set up to make objections to groomer books appear to be objections to legitimate literature for the purpose of mockery and derision.
2000 is the entire teen collection, not the books being reviewed.
That was my understanding also Elizabeth.
Really shows that they are not interested in doing their actual jobs- they are more interested in making some statement or putting a bAndaid on the real issue at hand. There are a lot of appropriate books in the Teen section, as a parent of teens who browse this area. Unfortunately there are many that are not fit to be in anything but the adult area. Sad our taxpayer money goes to making statements and an “easy out” for those who should be doing their jobs in the first place.
M–As the Wasilla Public Library Director pointed out at the meeting of the Wasilla City Council, it is the PARENT’S JOB to police what their own children access in public libraries. It is NOT the library’s job nor the librarians’ job to police minor patrons’ reading. The Public Library requires that all minors be either accompanied by an adult when visiting the library, or to have a written and signed permission slip from the parent/guardian before their child can even enter the library. The permission slip contains a statement, to which the parent/guardian must agree, that the parent/guardian understands that the parent/guardian is responsible for their children’s behavior in the library, including the books that the child accesses or checks out from the library.
SA, something is wrong with the statement, “it is the parent’s job” or “the parent’s responsibility.” I have not been able to put my finger on it yet, but there is something missing that would give that statement credibility. Public libraries have responsibility also for ensuring the safety and well-being of its patrons. I could see where a private library could get away with saying this crap that you keep repeating. In the instance of a private library, I could simply say that my family would not use that library; no one has lost out and my money is not being used in an immoral way. When my money is also paying to keep public libraries open and keep the bookshelves well-stocked with a variety of topics, then I have say in how my money is being spent and smut books are not something that should be in a public library that is counting on the taxpayer’s dollar. You guys want those smut books in a library? Go open your own private library and fill it with pornographic books, videos, posters…whatever you want. Quit expecting that the taxpayer is going to pay for your lustful desires because you are going to get pushback from the taxpayers.
What’s missing is the fact that the library has a Children/Teen section – why? To separate unsuitable material for the growth and maturity levels associated with these developmental steps of HEALTHY human beings. Everyone wants to throw money at problems reactively to the symptoms resulting after damage, but true wisdom is understanding that, if awakened too early to understand the acts and consequences of exposure to unwholesome material that can lead to inappropriate experiences, a young, fragile life can be shattered irreparably, leading to addictions to medicate and escape the fear, shame and pain. OUR RESPONSIBILITY as mature, caring adults is to PROTECT THE INNOCENCE of childhood. In that vein, the First Amendment is for ADULT citizens; MINOR children, 17 and under (modification needed to the AK statute to align law), are supposed to be under the care of parents or guardians with a vested interest in their future, with the help of community fostering the same care for the building of a better, healthier society. That is all so lost in a world of instant physical gratification that believes there is no consequence for actions. May God have mercy on us all … and make the world see He is the final judge to whom we will all answer. Kudos to you brave souls standing up for goodness in the face of evil … keep fighting the good fight!
So really, nothing was done and the pornographic librarians and city attorney pretended to show an effort but did nothing. A sign in front of the teen section that says for adults would entice the minors to see what is in there. Why are the librarians promoting incest? There needs to be a class action lawsuit using the statutes that Attorney General Treg Taylor stated warning against perverting the minors. Parents are in charge of our minor children. Our job is to protect the children against this very thing. Do the librarians want to protect the children from perversion? Parents are the guardians of their children. God set up the family for this purpose. The librarians are rebelling against families and values at every opportunity. We discovered in Fairbanks in the Impressions controversy that the librarians have their own Library Bill of Rights that the librarians have to sign to be allowed to work in libraries, These rights have nothing to do with the U.S. Bill of Rights in the Constitution. I will request my book titled “BOOKS THAT BUILD CHRARACTER: A guide to Teaching Your Child Moral Values Through Stories.” In addition Shakespeare has been missing. A Biography of Condoleeza Rice should be in libraries. Also a Biography of Clarence Thomas and and Thomas Sowell should be there. He challenges every false ideology, i.e. about slavery, social justice and many more. There are many books about our Wars and what caused them. There are many books about heroes in our American Heritage that are being left out. I have a list and I am sure others do too. The librarians need to look up what constitutes a Classical Education, not revised indoctrination of our Heritage. Librarians are researchers. A misunderstandings of what our children need is intentional. BTW We use Tuttle Times for our economic and history information with our grandchildren.
“Why are the librarians promoting incest? “. Ewing : ever read the bible? Read the part about Lot’s daughters screwing their father.
Doesn’t it get boring being so predictable? Those like you that are swimming with such compulsion to proselytize for their Atheist Religion are always such shallow promoters of their faith. It must be that ever present energy similar to a scared dog yipping on a front porch in a great big world.
“When we get a legal opinion and know where we stand, then we will make a decision.”
Such profound leadership here, Mayor Glenda. Way to take a stand. Sample the prevailing wind, then pick a side. I see that you too join me in my daily prayer: “LORD, I thank thee that I am a nice, lukewarm centrist. like thy chosen vessels. the Laodiceans.”
Nothing resolved again! Perverts will prevail!
just stop buying porn for teens to read. is it really that difficult to figure out? Or………go to jail. thats fair. looking forward to the prosecutions.
In my opinion Mr. Zane Treesh, is promoting under aged sex. In Alaska since I’ve lived here I’ve heard on the news about teachers, ans others going to prison for having underage video of children. What make librarians any different. These book are full of shut. Its a disgrace to normal adult heterosexual people to be forcing this shut that you think is ok on children. I think the Mayor and Mr. Zane Treeshboth need to find a new job. I suggest a prison cell might fit their perverted ideas.
The laws have been and are presently being broken. The response from the leaders is, “So what?
What is the fear then of breaking the law? Why not throw the dirty books in the gutter?
Sure, why not just heap them up and burn them like the Nazis used to do?
I will say it again, the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is restriction on the Congress from making any laws concerning, in any way our GOD given rights to worship, speak, and assemble. That is all it is. Furthermore all federal courts being created by the Congress, are by that creation an extension of Congress. And as such the federal courts have no jurisdiction in matters of religion, speech or assembly. Only the United States Congress has the ability violate the First Amendment. The Founders made it perfectly clear, but could do nothing about our biases and lack of education. If we need people like Wasilla attorney Holly Wells and the Nine Cowards In Black Robes to interpret something as simple as the First Amendment, we are serious trouble.
The city Attorney and the Librarian are obvious perverted groomers who need to be fired; and investigated by the WPD/AST.
Evil is evil, call it out for what it is. This isn’t a time to water things down.
SA- the job M was referring to was not the job of parenting. They were referring to the job of a librarian which is to review books and now allow illegal, pornographic muck into a place where children (yes even teens are children) browse. You must be a librarian since you seem to be attacking all parents who are “doing their job” who have valid points.
I think SA is an older person that says she is not a teacher or belongs to that union – just that she feels the way that the perverted teachers and librarians do in their belief that children have the right to learn about sex and being used as a toy by adults if the child wants to. Probably another person being paid by Soros money to destroy our children and the children’s future.
F. Bummer for you that you hit send on that comment. You don’t know why, do you.
Lucinda, I am pretty sure I read at one time that she said she was not a librarian or with the union. Every statement I made before I hit send is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge. I have a responsibility given to me by God Almighty to help protect the children and that is what I am doing. Your fear-mongering tactics don’t work on me or anyone else who is protecting our Heavenly Creator’s children.
Who will stop the perverts from prevailing???????
If anyone thinks that what has occurred in response to the the perverse actions taken against your children is making a difference, your naive and easily abused! I wish I were wrong, but I’m not!
This is a bit off topic but it does involve sex: Florida Moms For Liberty Leader’s Husband Investigated For Rape, After That It Gets Weird. The joke is about “Florida Man . . .” How about we expand that to “Florida man, and woman, and another woman?
Moms For Liberty is a conservative group most known for supporting Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay Law” and seeking to ban books from schools that it views as too “woke” or supportive of a gay rights agenda. One of the prominent leaders of that group is Bridget Ziegler, a member of the Sarasota County School Board. She helped draft the Don’t Say Gay Law. Her husband, Christian Ziegler, is the Florida GOP Chairman.
Police are now investigating Christian Ziegler because a woman claims he raped her. The woman claims, prior to the rape, that she, Bridget Ziegler and Christian Ziegler were involved in a longstanding consensual three-way sexual relationship. Police have executed a search warrant on Christian Ziegler’s electronic devices because he is alleged to have recorded the sessions with him, his wife, and his now accuser.
Ah yes, good ole Republican family values where a marriage is defined as a relationship between a man, a woman, and another woman. Apparently the Zieglers hold that it’s not gay if it’s a three-way.
– Daily Kos
This is a bit off topic but it does involve sex: Florida Moms For Liberty Leader’s Husband Investigated For Rape, After That It Gets Weird. The joke is about “Florida Man . . .” How about we expand that to “Florida man, and woman, and another woman?
Moms For Liberty is a conservative group most known for supporting Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay Law” and seeking to ban books from schools that it views as too “woke” or supportive of a gay rights agenda.
Lucinda, who are you to question anyone? You can’t even keep your own stories consistent.
F. “Who am I to question anyone?” Read that again and ask yourself that same question. Though I’m vastly more educated than you, it still seems proper that we all are allowed to question others. It’s what we do. All the time. Every day.
Read my post again. A publicly anti-gay woman’s husband is screwing her and her same sex friend. You tell me F. Do you question this relationship? Doesn’t it contradict all that you claim here and your interpretation of the bible?
You are vastly more educated than me? Hahaha You try so hard to be superior.
She parrots discredited talking points, can’t help but proselytize for her Atheist Religion, and hides behind anonymity while claiming a vast education that can’t even help her do simple research in to something so easily discredited?
Shallow.
Sad.
Predictable.
(I would advise suing those institutions that ‘vastly educated’ you. It didn’t take.)
Really?
I’m wondering if inappropriate books in the library is a distraction for the conservatives? The last meeting to give input on the Mat Su Borough Comprehensive Management Plan was November 29 at Houston Middle School. The liberals who have control of all of the local community councils are heavily involved with the new Mat Su Borough plan. Suggestions for the new plan were all marsh land be classified as “wetlands “i.e. Petersville, protect Natural Resources, you can’t subdivide less than 5 acres, required to have certain number of trees in your yard, NO grandfather rights, no salvage yards, no farm animals in residential neighborhoods, public transportation and low income apartments (which will turn the Mat Su into Anchorage), etc. All of you missed the opportunity to give input on the new plan. The last plan was written in 1970. They’re putting a group together to write the plan based off feedback from the community councils, then it will go to public hearings after it’s written.
I agree with your statement Living in the Mat Su. It is not just the inappropriate books however. Every single thing that the demons do has its own agenda to conquer something; but, on a broader scale everything combines to keep the mass confusion and mass distraction going enabling them to do many things at once. This is how, imho, they are able to keep staying one or two steps ahead of us; we keep concentrating on one or two things instead of 100 things at a time. What is happening in the world and in our nation WILL happen here and we have to be prepared to battle 100 things at once instead of one or two things.
Here’s another one that these distractions could be taking our attention away from. Watch the video. This is shocking how many military-aged illegal men are coming in and the flights across the US that appear to be dropping these illegals off.
‘Operation Trojan Horse – SITREP 12.1.23’
https://youtu.be/JLo2pYsOCSo?si=obdWk5u3YOIJ7uHi
How about a reminder from Paul Harvey: ‘If I were the Devil’ (If I Were The Devil (‘MAGA Version) — a warning to America from 1965 by Paul Harvey’)?
https://rumble.com/v2kxpl6-if-i-were-the-devil-maga-version-a-warning-to-america-from-1965-by-paul-har.html
Best way of dealing with the riptide of crap coming at us, succeed at something! We get drained of energy and resources and succeed at nothing!
A cooperative effort addressing the AG and dunceleavy to do their job : ie AG sue the non compliance happening in the libraries and just like that success begins! This is not as hard as we’re making it!
Moms for Liberty Ziegler who’s rabidly anti gay admitted this today: “…Bridget Ziegler meanwhile, who built her career in significant measure on demonizing gay people, admitted to police that she had sex with the female accuser at least once.” My vastly superior intellect (provided by several universities and a life time of good honest work), is not necessary to conclude that Ziegler is a hypocrite and, by extension, so is Moms for Liberty and further, all you scardey-cat, fear-fueled, anti-everything about sex except the missionary position Christians.
myers: “She parrots discredited talking points”. No I didn’t. “can’t help but proselytize for her Atheist Religion” . I don’t do that either. But I do advise truth seekers to abandon belief in the supernatural. “and hides behind anonymity”. That’s true. If I disclosed my last name, I’d be visited by far right haters with malintent. “while claiming a vast education”. That’s me. “that can’t even help her do simple research in to something so easily discredited?” Don’t know what you are referring to.
“Shallow.
Sad.
Predictable.
(I would advise suing those institutions that ‘vastly educated’ you. It didn’t take.)”
Whatever