Free Speech Under Attack: Library Book 'Let's Talk About It' Targeted…again…
In an email today, Misty Nesvick, the Community Relations Coordinator of the Anchorage Public Library (APL), confirmed that the book 'Let's Talk About It' has been officially challenged, setting into motion a series of events that will ultimately determine whether right-wing cancel culturalists have the power and influence to determine what Anchorage families are allowed to check out from the library.
The book became the cause of controversy in Anchorage after failed political candidate for everything, Jay McDonald, a former Democrat who once spearheaded (torpedoed) the campaigns of David Dunsmore and Pat Higgins, spread falsehoods about the book's availability to students during a February meeting of the Anchorage School Board.
'Let's Talk About It' also became an item of contention for right-wing APL Library Advisory Board (LAB) member Doug Weimann, who frantically pushed for the book to be sent to the municipal attorney for legal review after becoming alarmed by an image in the book which depicted a cartoon anus and scrotum. Weimann was especially concerned the book might violate Alaska Statute 11.41.455 – Unlawful Exploitation of a Minor and/or Municipal Code 8.50.010 – Performances and exhibitions harmful to minors.
"It seems pretty clear to me that we're breaking the law by having that book available to anyone who's under eighteen years of age," said Weimann during last month's LAB meeting.
LAB's conservative members, including Anchorage Mayor David Bronson's wife, Deborah Bronson, ultimately voted to refer the book to municipal attorney Anne Helzer for legal review at last month's meeting. Helzer declined LAB's request because APL did not first follow its standard process for reviewing materials in the library's collection.
According to a report by PEN America, a global organization that protects the rights of literature and free expression, 2,532 individual book bans were made between July 2021 and March 2022, covering 1,648 unique books. The report found that among the banned books, 41% explicitly address LGBTQ+ themes, and 40% contain protagonists or prominent secondary characters of color.
The Library Advisory Board meets tomorrow, Wednesday, April 19, at 5:30 PM. Interested members of the public can attend virtually via Microsoft Teams.
