Preparing for Potential Challenges

The Library Bill of Rights states, "Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation" (American Library Association, 2016c). My first defense against a challenge brought against any book would be the quoting of this declaration. As a librarian, I have a responsibility to make materials available to every patron even if some people disagree with certain items.

If providing a patron with the Library Bill of Rights is not effective in deterring a challenge, the next step is to provide the patron with a copy of my library's collection development policy. I currently work at the Phoenix Public Library, which has a comprehensive policy concerning the reason for, and process of, the selection of all materials in the collection. This document states that "materials will present a variety of styles, illustrations, languages and reading levels to reflect the various cultural, recreational and learning needs within the community" (Marko, 2011). This aligns with the general attitude toward censorship and intellectual freedom that all libraries uphold, and then goes one step farther by being provided by our particular library. It makes patrons aware of the fact that the library is a public place and caters to the needs of the entire community. What one person feels is inappropriate to display on library shelves is just what another person has been searching for. Especially in a public library, it is crucial to provide diverse material that represents different beliefs and walks of life because each patron needs something different.

Many challengers are parents trying to protect their children from materials they deem inappropriate. Main reasons for this are sexual content, explicit language, or the material being "unsuited to any age group" (American Library Association, 2016a). In the event that a parent challenges an item on my shelves, I would remind them of two things:

1. Although their children are minors they "unquestionably possess First Amendment rights, including the right to receive information through the library in print, sound, images, data, games, software, and other formats" (American Library Association, 2016b). Because it is a publicly funded government entity, the public library has an obligation to uphold all patrons' First Amendment rights. 
2. I would remind the challenging party that "only parents and guardians have the right and the responsibility to determine their children’s—and only their children’s—access to library resources" (American Library Association, 2016b). Especially when working in child and young adult services, it is important to maintain consistency in handling parent complaints. Material is provided for anyone who wishes to access it and its consumption is not censored by library staff. Along with upholding every patrons First Amendment rights regardless of their age, a youth services librarian must maintain that a guardian is responsible for what their child accesses while at the library. 

If these rationales are still not satisfactory for the patron challenging material, I would present them with a form that they can fill out to request the item be moved to a different section of the library or completely removed from the collection. The one provided by Phoenix Public Library is called a Request for Reevaluation of Library Materials and can be viewed below. The form prompts the patron to explain why they want the item's placement in the collection to be reconsidered and what they would like the library to do with the item. This gives the patron the opportunity to see their reasoning on paper, at which point they might reconsider formally challenging the item. It also gives them the opportunity to request the material be moved from the children's or young adult section to one meant for older patrons instead of being removed altogether (although this argument only works if the material is being challenged for mature themes). If the patron still insists on challenging the item and fills out the form to completion, I would honor their request and continue the process, because everyone has the right to feel comfortable at the library.

Sources

American Library Association. (2016a). About banned and challenged books. Stand Up For Your Right to Read Banned and Challenged Books: A Website of the Office of Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/bbooks/about

American Library Association (2016b). Access to library resources and services for minors. ALA: American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/access-library-resources-for-minors

American Library Association. (2016c). Library Bill of Rights. ALA: American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill

Library Advisory Board. (2011). Materials selection and de-selection. Phoenix Public Library. Retrieved from http://www.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/AboutUs/Documents/Policies/Materials%20Selection%20and%20De-Selection.pdf#search=selection%20policy