Alpena County Board of Commissioners meets to discuss controversial books | News, Sports, Jobs

News photo by Steve Schulwitz. Joe Garber, president of the Alpena County Library Board (left), answers questions from the Alpena County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday. The commissioners are concerned about some children’s and young adult books that contain questionable material.

ALPENA – Members of the Alpena County Library Board say moving or removing books with sexual content from children’s and young adult sections is not as easy as some believe and that the books will stay where they are, at least for now.

At an Alpena County Board of Commissioners committee meeting Wednesday, commissioners and library officials discussed what the library can and cannot do with the controversial books, which have prompted some in the community to urge voters to reject an upcoming library tax proposal.

Commissioner Robin LaLonde, who is not a member of the committee meeting Wednesday but attended the public meeting, sharply criticized the books and announced that she would not support the renewal of the millage in the August vote because she believes the library has failed to protect children.

Deputy Library Director Jessica Luther abruptly left the meeting before the discussion between commissioners and library officials was completed and before public comment was allowed.

LaLonde urged Luther to stay at the meeting to answer questions from the audience if necessary, but Luther did not return.

After the meeting, all remaining library staff and board members refused to answer questions from The News.

The books affected include one called “It’s Perfectly Normal,” which can be found in the children’s section, and “Let’s Talk About It,” which can be found in the young adult section. The children’s section is for children up to 11 years old, while the young adult section is for children between the ages of 12 and 17.

The committee wanted to know why the books, some of which are too graphic for The News to describe in detail, were ultimately purchased and placed where they are now. Commissioners also wanted to know what is being done to ensure the books do not end up in the hands of children.

Joe Garber, chairman of the Alpena County Library Board, said the library’s current placement policy is outdated and the library is still in the early stages of the revision process.

Garber did not elaborate on how the new policy would address offensive books, nor did he provide a specific timeline for when the policy would be finalized and reviewed, but he said the library plans to seek public input to help shape the new rules.

Commissioner Travis Konarzewski asked Garber who has the final say on which books are selected and purchased. Garber said the board sets the guidelines and staff looks for recommended and approved books from the American Library Association.

Garber said the library administration selects which books to purchase and uses information from the library association for placement.

He said the board has no role in book selection. Garber also said the board does not review the books selected by staff.

“We create the policies and the staff implements those policies,” he said. “We as a board have never been asked to approve which books are purchased.”

Konarzewski wanted to know more and asked again who selects and orders the books.

“We have department heads, the library director and the assistant director who review and decide which books might be appropriate,” Garber replied.

Debra Greenacre is the current director and Luther is the acting director. Luther also served as interim director from June 2022 to May 2023.

Garber said the director is also the first to have to rule on book complaints from the public before those complaints are forwarded to a library committee and then to the full library board. He said the full board has only been presented with one book that he has not read.

It is not known whether other members of the library board read the controversial book “All Boys Aren’t Blue” during the book contest.

Lauren Mantlo is a library administrator and director of the library at Alpena Community College. She said she has a graduate degree in library and information science and warned commission members of a potential First Amendment violation if the book is removed or moved.

“When I was appointed to this board, I made my feelings about the collection and my position as a librarian very clear,” she said. “I uphold the Constitution and the First Amendment to the Constitution. As trustees, we have to make sure we’re following the law. So it doesn’t matter if you like these books or not. There are going to be books that offend everyone, and a good library is going to have books that offend everyone. That’s the whole point.”

Several of the commissioners questioned Mantlo’s opinion, pointing to age ratings, warnings and age restrictions on adult films, music, video games and websites.

All of the committee’s commissioners, as well as Commissioners La Londe and Burt Francisco, who were also present in the audience, expressed their concerns about the books and the library’s handling of them.

Commissioner Brenda Fournier criticized the library and its staff, saying something must be done to keep what she called pornographic content out of the hands of minors. She reminded library board members that they were entrusted with a job by the county and that she believes they are failing to do it.

“I don’t think the books you have on those shelves should be there,” she said. “We have a sex shop here and you have to be 18 to enter the building. When I hear that kids at the library can just walk in and get one of those books, it’s not a problem. They can do that without the parents knowing what kind of book their kids have.”

LaLonde reminded everyone at the meeting how she has supported youth in the area for years and works closely with the Boys and Girls Club of Alpena and other youth initiatives. She said the library lost its vote on the proposed millage renewal in August.

As LaLonde described some of the images from the book “Let’s Talk About It,” a woman in the audience sent her children out of the event.

“I want you to understand what you’re defending,” LaLonde said. “The worst part is that the library board of trustees hasn’t even read the books. The community is furious about these books, so sit down at the table and look at them. I’ll shout it from the rooftops and you’ve lost my vote for the tax increase 1,000%. I don’t know why the board of trustees are complacent about offering pornography to children. They’re not going to regulate it.”

Konarzewski, who has viewed and researched the books, said many libraries in the area do not have the books in their collections.

Each year the Commissioners appoint or nominate a member of the Library Board.

Earlier this month, commissioners discussed whether the county would be able to replace the entire board in one fell swoop.

According to County Administrator Jesse Osmer, a district attorney explained that commissioners could replace any appointed official by a majority vote if they believe that the official is unable to properly perform his or her duties.

The county took no action Wednesday, and most commission members agreed that the library provides many good and important programs for the community, but that the book problem must be addressed – if possible before the election.

With the blessing of commissioners, the library is seeking a 10-year extension of the .7462 per thousand property tax that funds the library’s operations and maintenance. The tax would generate about $842,000 for the library in the first year and cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $38 per year.

“If the tax increase does not pass, the library will have to be closed,” Garber said.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.