American Libraries magazine reported in mid-July that the Richland Washington (state) School District board rescinded its ban of the controversial & oft-challenged Sherman Alexie book, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. The school district’s board banned the book on June 14 of this year. Only a month later the ban was lifted.

The change of heart occurred after the board discovered that some members of the district’s Instructional Materials Committee, established to review all books considered for use in the schools, had actually never read the book!

After reading it, two board members who had originally opposed the book, Mary Guay & Rick Donahoe, later referred to their votes as a mistake. Donahoe said the book was “outstanding,” according to the Tacoma News Tribune. Both Guay & Donahoe said from now on they plan to read every book they’re asked to vote on.

It was reported by KVEW-TV on July 12 that all ten copies of Absolutely True were checked out from the Richland Library.