Alpine School District restricts 52 library books

ALPINE, Utah — When school resumes in the Alpine School District, students will need parental permission to check out 52 specific books from the library.

The books in question are currently under review, while the district develops its policy to handle book complaints. Earlier this week, the district voted to temporarily restrict availability to the 52 books that have been under review since last month. 

All of the books under review contain sensitive material. Some deal with drugs, others with sex. And many feature characters from marginalized communities.  

According to School Board Member, Julie King, of the 52 books under review,  37% of them deal with LBGTQ issues.

“I am concerned that we can have a bias because we are uncomfortable with queer sexuality,” King said. 

During the last meeting of the Alpine School Board, the district added a new amendment to the rules that detail the removal of books from the library.

The rule states that if a book is removed from the shelves, and that book has characters that are members of marginalized communities, the district must find a replacement with equitable perspectives.

Pen America recently released a list of the books in question.

Mark Jones contributed to this article. 

Related: 

• Bill to ban “pornographic and indecent” books in Utah public schools temporarily stalls
• Utah State Board of Education approves policy outlining how a book is banned
• Educators urge parents not to call police over ‘harmful’ books in school libraries