News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Alpena County Library board President Joe Garber, left, answers questions from the Alpena County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday. Commissioners are concerned about some children’s and teen books that contain questionable material.

ALPENA — Members of the Alpena County Library board say moving or removing books in the children’s and teen sections that contain sexual content isn’t as easy as some believe and, at least for now, the books will remain where they are.

At an Alpena County Board of Commissioners committee meeting on Wednesday, commissioners and representatives from the library discussed what the library can and can’t do with the controversial books, which have led some in the community to call on voters to nix an upcoming library tax proposal.

Commissioner Robin LaLonde, who does not serve on the committee that met Wednesday but attended the meeting with the public, heavily criticized the books and vowed she would not support the millage renewal on the August ballot because, she said, the library has failed to protect kids.

Library Assistant Director Jessica Luther abruptly left the meeting before the discussion between commissioners and library officials concluded and before public comment.

LaLonde urged Luther to remain at the meeting to answer questions from the public, if needed, but Luther did not return.

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

Among the books in question are one titled “It’s Perfectly Normal,” which is in the children’s section, and “Let’s Talk About It,” in the teen section. The children’s section is for kids up to 11 years old, while the teen section is for kids 12 to 17 years old.

The committee wanted to know why the books, parts of which are too graphic for The News to describe in detail, ended up being purchased and placed where they are. The commissioners also wanted to know what is being done to make sure the books don’t land in the hands of children.

Alpena County Library board President Joe Garber said the library’s current placement policy is outdated and the library is early in the process of revamping the policy.

Garber didn’t share any insight into how the new policies would regulate objectionable books and provided no definitive timeline on when the policies would be completed and reviewed. He did say the library wanted input from the public to help craft 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 policy and staff seeks out recommended and approved books from the American Library Association.

Garber said administrators at the library choose which books to purchase and use information from the Library Association for placement.

He said the board plays no role in book selection. Garber also said the board does not review the books employees select.

“We create the policy and staff carries out that policy,” he said. “We have never as a board been asked to approve what books are purchased.”

Konarzewski wanted more specifics and asked again who chooses the books and who orders them.

“We have department heads, the library director, and the assistant director who review and decide what books may be appropriate,” Garber answered.

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

Garber said the director also is the first to rule on book challenges from the public before appeals move those challenges up to a library committee and then the full library board. He said only one book has come to the full board, which he said he did not read.

It is not known if others on the library board read the challenged book, “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” during the book challenge process.

Lauren Mantlo is a library trustee and director of the library for Alpena Community College. She said she earned a graduate degree in library and information science and warned the commissioners about a potential First Amendment violation if the book is removed or moved.

“When I was appointed to this board, I was very clear on my feelings about the collection and where I stood as a library professional,” she said. “What I’m doing is upholding the Constitution and First Amendment. As trustees, we have to make sure we are following the law. So, it doesn’t matter if you like or don’t like these books. There are going to be books that offend everyone and a good library will have books that offend everyone. That’s the whole point.”

Several of the commissioners questioned Mantlo’s opinion and pointed to ratings, content warnings, and age requirements for movies, music, video games, and adult websites.

Each commissioner on the committee and Commissioners La Londe and Burt Francisco, who also attended in the audience, have expressed concerns about the books and the library’s handling of them.

Commissioner Brenda Fournier was critical of the library and staff and said something needs to be done so what she called pornographic content doesn’t fall into the hands of minors. She reminded the library board members that the county appointed them to do a job and she believes they aren’t doing it.

“I feel the books you have on those shelves should not be there,” she said. “We have a sex shop here and you have to be 18 years old to enter the building. When I hear, at the library, children can just walk in and get one of these books, it is no problem, they can do this without parents knowing the type of book their kids have.”

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

When LaLonde described some of the images from the book “Let’s Talk About It,” one woman in the crowd had her children leave the meeting.

“I want you to understand what you’re defending,” LaLonde said. “The worst part is the library’s Board of Trustees had not even read the books. The community is having a fit about these books, so sit down at the table and look at them. I will shout from the rooftops about this and you have lost my vote for the millage, 1,000%. I don’t know why the trustees are dying on the hill of offering porn to children. They will not regulate it.”

Konarzewski, who looked at the books and did research on them, said many libraries around the area do not have the books in their inventory.

Each year, the commissioners appoint or reappoint one library board member.

Earlier this month, commissioners discussed whether the county has the ability to replace the entire board in one swoop.

According to County Administrator Jesse Osmer, a county attorney said the commissioners can replace any appointee with a majority vote if they deem the appointee is incapable of executing his or her duties properly.

The county didn’t take any action on Wednesday and most of the commissioners agreed that the library provides many good and important programs for the community, but that the book issue needs to be addressed — before the election, if possible.

With the blessing of commissioners, the library is seeking a 0.7462-mill, 10-year renewal of the property tax that funds library operations and maintenance. The tax would generate about $842,000 for the library in its first year and cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $38 a year.

“If the millage doesn’t pass, the library would have to close,” Garber said.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.