See Also: the UBC iSchool Student Journal
Vol 2., No. 1 (Spring 2016)
Annotated Bibliography of Challenged Material Policies in Libraries
Matthew Murray
thematthewmurray@gmail.com
Keywords: librarians, libraries, censorship
Abstract
While
few librarians or libraries want to deal with the possibility of
patrons submitting challenges to material held in their collections, it
is a reality of the position of libraries in our communities that this
will happen. Because this is an area that can lead to poor
representations of libraries in both the media and the general public
consciousness, it is important for libraries to have fully developed
policies to deal with all aspects of these challenges. This article
looks at why a library needs these policies, and examines various
resources concerning them.
Table of contents
1. Introduction
Topic………………………………………...…………………………………………………………………………………….....…3
Purpose……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...…3
2. Resources
Articles…………………………………………...…………………………..……………………………………………….……….6
● Frank, B. "Just a bunch of bigots" A case study in the acquisition of controversial material.
● Manzo, K. Challenged.
●
McMenemy, D. Censorship or recklessness? Obligations and legality
regarding controversial materials in libraries.
● Preer, J. Prepare to Be Challenged!
● Scales, P. Challenged: A formal process provides teaching moments.
●
Tsompanakis, S. A discussion and suggestions on ethical barriers
in librarianship: Information privacy, controversial materials, and
personal beliefs.
Books and other documents..…………………………………………………………………………….………….………7
● Cabeceiras, J. Responding to Request to Censor.
● Guidance on the management of controversial material in public libraries.
● Jones, R. Controversial Materials in Libraries.
Library Policies………………………………...……………………………………………………………………………………8
● Beaufort County Library. Challenged Materials Policy.
● Free Library of Philadelphia. Reevalution of Materials.
● MacOdrum Library. Challenged Materials in the Library Policy.
● Mead Public Library. Challenged Materials Policy.
● Pikes Peak Library District. Challenged Materials Policy.
● Ryerson University Library Archives. Challenged Material.
● Seattle Public Library. Selection and Withdrawal of Library Materials.
● Strathmore Library. Challenged Materials.
● Vancouver Public Library. Collection Development Policy.
● Wasco County Library Service District. Challenged Materials.
●
Western Kentucky University Libraries. Challenged Material
Statement regarding Censorship/Intellectual Freedom.
Websites……………………………...……………………………………………………………………………………………..10
●
The American Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee.
Dealing with Concerns about Library Resources.
●
The American Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee.
Sample Request for Reconsideration of Library Resources.
● The Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC). Suggested Steps to Take When Materials Are Challenged.
● Cruz, R. Be Prepared with a Challenged Materials Policy.
● Freedom to Read Week. Position Statement.
● Lanier, G. Conducting a challenge hearing.
● The Office for Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association. Intellectual Freedom Manual.
●
The Office for Intellectual Freedom of the American Library
Association. Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges to Library
Materials.
● The Office for Intellectual Freedom
of the American Library Association. Workbook for Selection Policy
Writing.
● Pateman, J. Management of controversial material in public libraries.
● Wilkie, S. Guidance on the management of controversial material in public libraries.
Part 1: Introduction
Topic: Creating policies to deal with challenged materials in public libraries
This
bibliography is an overview of resources that cover public library
policies relating to challenged material and could be used by a library
looking to create or improve upon their own policies. It will discuss
the reasons why such policies are necessary, the areas that such a
policy should cover, and the related policies that a library should
have. Following the discussion are brief descriptions of resources that
deal with the creation of challenged materials policies and why they
may, or may not, be useful.
Purpose
While
few librarians or libraries want to deal with patrons submitting
challenges to material held in their collections, it is a reality of
the position of libraries in our communities that this will happen.
Because this is an area that can lead to poor representations of
libraries in both the media and the general public consciousness, it is
important for libraries to have fully developed policies to deal with
all aspects of these challenges. While some of these policies will deal
directly with the process of receiving and dealing with challenges,
others will deal with other aspects of the library, or of the policies
themselves.
There are generally seven areas that a policy for
challenged material should cover: who can submit a challenge, how they
can submit a challenge, the format of challenges, what the library does
when it receives a challenge, if/how appeals from patrons to library
decisions will work, how the library should deal with media inquiries
related to challenges, and policies regarding the policies themselves.
1.
The first area of policy to be addressed is who may submit a
challenge. This can be important because, while the library may need to
respond to the interests of the community, they must decide who that
community is. Some policies state that those submitting a challenge
must have read or watched the material they are challenging, or that
the challenger must be a resident of the area where the library is
located.
2. The next area of policy is how a
patron may submit a challenge to library material. Policies usually
require a patron to complete a form stating who they are, what material
they are challenging, and their reasons for challenging this material.
While it is important to make these forms easily available to patrons,
the first step of any challenge should be to try to resolve any
problems a patron might have with library material before they even
submit a written challenge. This can be done by talking to a patron who
approaches a library employee with a challenge, and discussing why the
library has this material based upon selection policies, whom the
library is serving, and the process of material acquisition. During
these discussions it is important for patrons to feel as though their
opinions are important to the library, and that their concerns are
taken seriously.
3. If a patron decides that
they still wish to submit a written complaint, the next area of policy
concerns the creation of a challenge form. How these forms are written
can affect how a patron feels concerning their challenge (and is
discussed in Preers article, Prepare to Be Challenged!). For example,
offering checkboxes concerning why they are challenging a specific
material may make it easier to classify their concerns and create a
response, but may also lead to them choosing more challenges than they
initially intended on doing. Even the name or language of this form can
have an effect on the relationship between the patron and the library
and should be considered.
4. The next area of
policy regards what happens to a patron’s challenge once it has been
submitted to the library. The library policy should state who the
challenge goes to, and what will be done to address the challenge.
Various libraries have created different types of policies with
different numbers of levels. Some feature subcommittees assigned to
evaluate the work from the very beginning, while others leave the
initial evaluation up to a single librarian. All should state exactly
what is being done in regards to the challenge, and how and on what
levels a material is being evaluated.
5. Many
libraries allow for patrons to appeal the initial response from the
library concerning their material challenge. A policy should include
whether appeals are allowed, and what form they should take. They
usually take the form of patrons bringing their concern to the library
board, either in a private meeting, or in a public forum of some kind.
In either case there should be policies in place to make sure that the
patron is given a fair forum for discussing their challenge. These
policies can include things such as speaker lists and time limits for
public forums, or official responses not being immediately released
following meetings. In any case, the patron should be aware of these
policies before they enter into the meeting.
6.
Related to policies concerning meetings and public forums are
those concerning media interaction. At times, media can become involved
in a patron’s challenges to library material, and it is important for
the library to be prepared. This means there should be policies in
place concerning writing and sending press releases, who can talk to
the media as a representative of the library, and what message the
library should be trying to present to both the media and the public.
7.
The final area of policy concerning material challenges is that
of policies about other policies. While this may seem fairly arcane at
first, its importance becomes more obvious when examined more closely.
While the creation of policies is important, these same policies must
be kept up to date, and it is important for libraries to feature
systems that allow for policies to be regularly reviewed and updated.
This is especially vital with regard to laws that may affect what sort
of material a library may be able to defend having in its collections,
or even be legally allowed to own.
Additionally, it is important
to have policies ensuring that policies regarding how patrons may make
challenges of material are freely available to them. This ensures that
patrons are aware of the process they must go through in order to
submit a challenge, the methods which their response will be dealt
with, and any further steps that can take if they are unsatisfied with
the initial response. It can also be beneficial to feature timelines
indicating to patrons how long each step will take, and when they can
expect a response concerning their challenge. While it might seem as
though not making this information easily accessible to the public will
reduce the number of complaints, it can lead to patrons going through
other, more public, avenues when attempting to challenge material.
Education
is another area where policies about policies becomes important. A
library can have a great policy concerning how to deal with patron
challenges, but if the employees and board members of the library are
unaware of these policies, then problems can arise when a challenge is
raised. It is important to ensure that employees receive training to
educate them on how to deal with patron challenges and the policies
that exist in that area. Similarly, it is important for board members
to be aware of what policies a library has in place concerning
challenges to material, selection policies, and why a library has
chosen to implement those policies.
Another area of policy
concerning challenges to material are the policies that will be
referred to when evaluating the material in question. These include
selection policies, the library mandate, the mission statement of the
library, documents concerning intellectual freedom, and so forth. The
creation of these policies is not part of the creation of a challenge
to material policy, and, while used in evaluating materials and writing
responses to patron challenges, they should be created independently.
It
may be beneficial to ensure that policies regarding the security of
library materials mention that challenged material can be at a greater
risk. Unfortunately, only one source I found mentioned this explicitly.
While
most libraries will deal with a small number of challenges (any
theoretical library that deals with thousands every year presumably has
many other problems), it is still important for them to have the proper
policies in place to deal with them. A library that deals poorly with a
challenge to the material they have in their collection risks losing
the support of the community they are supposed to serve. Thankfully, it
seems that the vast majority of libraries already have these policies
in place; however, it is still important for libraries to review them
and ensure that their employees and board members are familiar with how
they work.
Part 2: Resources
Articles
●
Frank, B. (1994). "Just a bunch of bigots" A case study in the
acquisition of controversial material. Archival Issues, 19(1), 53-65.
Discusses
specifically acquiring controversial material of historical value, and
how, despite such material falling within collection policies, it can
lead to controversies where a librarian’s professional credentials are
not valued by the public. There is information on how to deal with the
fallout of such controversies, including the idea that ignoring public
debate is worse than doing nothing, why and how you should respond to
public criticism, and information on dealing with journalists.
● Manzo, K. (2006, September 27). Challenged. Education Week, 5-5.
Discusses
why materials are challenged by patrons, why it is important to have
well-structured policies that address patrons’ concerns, and how it is
important to follow established policies. The article mentions the
importance of having clearly defined steps to allow for challenges to
be made and timelines for reacting to challenges.
●
McMenemy, D. (2009). Censorship or recklessness? Obligations and
legality regarding controversial materials in libraries. Library
Review, 58(2), 85-88. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
Provides a
UK-based perspective on the types of material challenged by patrons,
and the importance of providing access to such material. The importance
of knowing the legal framework a library exists within is shown by
discussing current and historical laws, as well as legal cases that
have affected material in libraries.
● Preer,
J.(2014). Prepare to Be Challenged! Library Trends 62(4), 759-770. The
Johns Hopkins University Press.
Uses an example of a complex and
messy series of challenges from specific library patrons to discuss the
importance of having well established policies for every step of the
challenge process (including public forums and private meetings) and
ensuring that staff and board members are well educated on said
policies and the reasons behind them. Discusses how something seemingly
minor, such as access to materials challenge forms, and the wording
used on them, can affect how the entire process is perceived by the
patron, leading to either better or worse understanding.
●
Scales, P. (2013). Challenged: A formal process provides teaching
moments. School Library Journal, 59(7), 14.
Says that having a
formal complaint process for challenged material is important, presents
some scenarios and possible solutions to challenges.
●
Tsompanakis, S. (2014). A discussion and suggestions on ethical
barriers in librarianship: Information privacy, controversial
materials, and personal beliefs. Library Philosophy and Practice.
Says
that policies surrounding challenges are important as they support the
library in the face of complaints concerning material in their library,
notes that these policies must be applied and followed properly if they
are to be of any use, and suggests that there will always be some
amount of bias from librarians no matter how fair the policies may be
because “librarians are humans and not automatons.” Also states that it
is important to remember that no matter how carefully created and
followed, policies surrounding challenged material cannot make
everybody happy.
Books and other documents
●
Cabeceiras, J. (1982). Responding to Request to Censor. In The
multimedia library: Materials selection and use (2nd ed., pp. 278-285).
New York: Academic Press.
Suggests that librarians should
attempt to resolve challenges through discussions about library
selection policies without the patron having to create a written
complaint. It is the only source that gives the option to “remove only
the objectionable parts of the material if feasible,” and suggests
that, in response to challenges, a library should avoid publicity and
keep a low profile. As this is from a much earlier era, it is probably
more valuable for historical purposes than for creating current
policies.
● Guidance on the management of
controversial material in public libraries. (2009). London: Museums,
Libraries and Archives Council.
Features appendices of case
studies featuring library policies on selection and censorship, and a
section on handling complaints, explaining why libraries might make
certain material available. Interestingly, states, “Censorship will
only be exercised when required by the law,” which indicates that
libraries in the UK work within a very different environment.
●
Jones, R. (2010, May 22). Controversial Materials in Libraries.
Retrieved from February 7, 2015,
http://img.lib.msu.edu/lamp/LAMP_Controversial_Materials_Outline_Jones.pdf
Offers
several reasons why patrons may find material controversial, discusses
why library collections include those types of material, and raises the
question of whether libraries should have historically valuable
material that may be offensive to some users. Also discusses several
administrative issues that can happen due to patron challenges, and was
the only source to mention that the security of challenged items may be
at risk.
Library Policies
●
Beaufort County Library. (2009, September). Challenged Materials
Policy. Retrieved February 7, 2015, from
http://www.beaufortcountylibrary.org/content/challenged-materials-policy
Public Library. Beaufort, South Carolina. Five branches.
Gives
steps for how patrons can submit challenges; how the library will deal
with them, including the creation of committees to evaluate material
(if necessary); and how patrons may appeal to the library board if
unsatisfied with the initial decision. Mentions the importance of
creating written reports and recommendations if challenges reach higher
levels.
● Free Library of Philadelphia.
(n.d.). Reevalution of Materials. Retrieved February 7, 2015, from
http://www.freelibrary.org/about/materialselection.htm#reevaulation
Public Library, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Fifty-four branches.
Provides
information for patrons on how to make formal requests to challenge
material. Links to ALA Library Bill of Rights, ALA Freedom to Read
policy, and Free Library of Philadelphia policies concerning material
selection, collection policies, and age level guidance.
●
MacOdrum Library. (n.d.). Challenged Materials in the Library
Policy. Retrieved February 7, 2015, from
https://www.library.carleton.ca/about/policies/challenged-materials-library-policy
Academic library. Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario. One branch.
Gives
Canadian Library Association Statement on Intellectual Freedom, and
provides brief overview of how complaints should be made and dealt with.
●
Mead Public Library. (n.d.). Challenged Materials Policy.
Retrieved February 7, 2015, from
http://www.meadpl.org/policies/challenges
Public library. Sheboygan, Wisconsin. One branch.
States
that, although the difference between constitutionally protected and
unprotected expressions can at times be hard to discern, all attempts
to regulate library material, whether from citizens or governments,
must be looked at carefully. Provides information on the challenge
process, including the requirement that those making complaints must
have read, watched, or viewed the material in full, that they must be
residents of the county where the library is located, and that titles
will only be reviewed once every five years “unless substantial content
changes have been made.”
● Pikes Peak Library
District. (n.d.). Challenged Materials Policy. Retrieved February 7,
2015, from http://ppld.org/challenged-materials-policy
Public library. El Paso County, Colorado. Sixteen branches.
Provides
information to patrons about why the library has made its selections,
the procedures for requesting material to be reconsidered, and how the
library will progress after the final decision is made to retain or
remove the material.
● Ryerson University
Library Archives. (2012, April 19). Challenged Material. Retrieved
February 7, 2015, from
http://library.ryerson.ca/info/policies/challenged/
Academic library. Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario. One branch.
Gives
procedures for how challenges of material must be presented to the
library, and the steps the library must go through in response.
Includes how to create a subcommittee to discuss things with
challengers, consult with experts, and give recommendations to the
library council.
● Seattle Public Library.
(2002, January 22). Selection and Withdrawal of Library Materials.
Retrieved February 7, 2015, from
http://www.spl.org/about-the-library/library-use-policies/selection-and-withdrawal-of-library-materials
Public library. Seattle, Washington. Twenty-seven branches.
Provides
information on the objectives of the collection, the selection policy,
policies regarding access to the collection, constitutional protection
(including that any material that is found to not be constitutionally
protected will be removed from the collection), the collection review
procedure, and how the withdrawal of materials will be handled.
●
Strathmore Library. (n.d.). Challenged Materials. Retrieved
February 7, 2015, from
http://www.strathmorelibrary.ca/content/challenged-materials
Public library. Strathmore, Alberta. One branch.
States
why a library might feature material an individual may not like, but
also why they should respect others' right to access that material.
Provides information about how to make a challenge, how the challenge
will be dealt with, and links to the Canadian Library Association’s
Statement of Intellectual Freedom.
● Vancouver
Public Library. (2008, September 24). Collection Development Policy.
Retrieved February 7, 2015, from
http://www.vpl.ca/about/details/collection_development_policy
Public library. Vancouver, British Columbia. Twenty-two branches.
Provides
limited information on how a request for “Reconsideration of Library
Materials” may be made, and states that the library will review any
material that is challenged in this way.
●
Wasco County Library Service District. (n.d.). Challenged
Materials. Retrieved February 7, 2015, from
http://www.wasco.plinkit.org/about-us/library-policies/challenged-materials.html.
No longer online.
Public library. Wasco County, Oregon. Three branches.
States
how complaints regarding material need to be made (including author,
title, and page numbers of material objected to, and reason for
objection), provides information on how patrons who are not satisfied
with initial response from the library can present to the library
board, and how the board will determine if the material meets the
library’s criteria for inclusion. Also states that the “presence of a
book or other material in the collection shall not constitute an
approval or endorsement of the views contained in it.”
●
Western Kentucky University Libraries. (2014, February 26).
Challenged Material Statement regarding Censorship/Intellectual
Freedom. Retrieved February 7, 2015, from
http://www.wku.edu/library/deansoffice/policiesandprocedures/challengedmaterials.php
Academic library. Bowling Green, Kentucky. Seven locations.
Provides
information on how challenges to material are dealt with, how
committees to deal with challenges will be created and operate, and how
the committee’s job is to consider the value of the material in the
context of the library collection as a whole, and not just the concerns
of the challenger.
Professional Organizations and Other Websites
●
The American Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee.
(2000, November 17). Dealing with Concerns about Library Resources.
Retrieved from
http://www.ala.org/bbooks/challengedmaterials/preparation/dealing-concerns
Discusses
the importance of having a collection policy, a service policy, a
clearly defined complaints process (including steps for staff to follow
while dealing with a complaint), staff training in regards to book
challenges, communication with outside support groups and individuals,
and staying in touch with the media. Suggests that libraries should be
aware of rights, laws, and local legislation.
●
The American Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee.
(1995, June 27). Sample Request for Reconsideration of Library
Resources. Retrieved from
http://www.ala.org/bbooks/challengedmaterials/support/samplereconsideration
Gives an example of what a material challenge form can look like, and information that can be included.
●
The Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC). (n.d.). Suggested
Steps to Take When Materials Are Challenged. Retrieved February 7,
2015, from http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/freedom/steps.asp
States
that every challenge will be different, and that there are a large
number of different factors that can influence both the reasons for the
challenge, and the way a library reacts. Provides suggested steps for
dealing with challenges to material, including reviewing the complaint,
reviewing selection policy, organizing discussions with staff, and
gathering resources in order to explain why a resource is in the
library.
● Cruz, R. (2014, February 12). Be
Prepared with a Challenged Materials Policy. Retrieved February 7,
2015, from
http://publiclibrariesonline.org/2014/02/be-prepared-with-a-challenged-materials-policy/
States
the importance of working with a library’s board when creating a
challenged materials policy, both to create a good policy but also to
ensure that the board is aware of the policy, why it exists, and why
material is selected for the library. Suggests that it is important for
a library to have a specific library employee who is responsible for
dealing with patron challenges, and for other employees to know who
that person is.
● Freedom to Read Week. (1997,
February 5). Position Statement. Retrieved February 7, 2015, from
http://www.freedomtoread.ca/who-we-are/position-statement/
Provides
information on how freedom of expression is a fundamental right of
Canadians and that only the courts have the legal right to restrict
access to reading material. Links to the Canadian Charter of Rights and
Freedoms.
● Lanier, G. (n.d.). Conducting a
challenge hearing. Retrieved February 7, 2015, from
http://www.ala.org/bbooks/challengedmaterials/support/hearing
Suggests
that challenge hearings can be the weak link in library policy,
stresses the importance of ensuring that board members are familiar
with library policies regarding collections if they are required to be
present at such an event, and provides some suggestions for guidelines
(speaker lists, time limits, etc.) to ensure such meetings run
smoothly. Discusses the importance of being transparent about hearings,
meetings, and policies; the value in being in contact with people who
will speak about the importance of large varieties of material being
available in libraries; and how the library should be media savvy and
prepare press releases concerning challenges and hearings.
●
The Office for Intellectual Freedom of the American Library
Association. (n.d.). Intellectual Freedom Manual. Retrieved February 7,
2015, from http://www.ifmanual.org/
Provides an overview of
intellectual freedom with regards to libraries, including the library
bill of rights and legal rights. Provides material for creating
collection development policies and guidelines to prepare and respond
to challenges to material.
● The Office for
Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association. (1999).
Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges to Library Materials.
Retrieved from
http://www.ala.org/bbooks/challengedmaterials/support/strategies
Stresses
the importance of giving staff training in how to deal with challenges
to material and library policies. Provides tips for librarians,
directors, and board members on how to deal with patrons and the media
in regards to challenges, including reaching out to the community to
let them know why the library has the policies it does, ensuring those
policies are up to date and fit within legal frameworks, and the
importance of both internal and external communication.
●
The Office for Intellectual Freedom of the American Library
Association. (1999, October). Workbook for Selection Policy Writing.
Retrieved from
http://www.ala.org/bbooks/challengedmaterials/preparation/workbook-selection-policy-writing
Provides
information on creating a selection policy for a library, including
objections, responsibility, criteria, selection procedure, challenges,
and controversial material. Features a full sample policy of
“Procedures for Dealing with Challenged Materials.”
●
Pateman, J. (2013, March 13). Management of controversial
material in public libraries. Retrieved February 7, 2015, from
http://libr.org/isc/management-of-controversial-material-in-public-libraries-by-john-pateman/
Discusses
a consultation regarding a document created by the UK Museums,
Libraries and Archives Council about controversial material in
libraries and how many libraries did not feel it adequately met their
needs.
● Wilkie, S. (2010, January 6).
Guidance on the management of controversial material in public
libraries. Retrieved February 7, 2015, from
http://www.slideshare.net/toonsarah/guidance-on-the-management-of-controversial-material-in-public-libraries
States
that libraries have a duty to provide comprehensive service to the
public, but must still be accountable to their communities. Discusses
the importance of a library having policies about their policies, so
that they can keep their policies up to date, make sure they are
publicly available, that their staff have received training regarding
them, and so forth.
Matthew Murray is a 2015 graduate of
UBC's School of Library, Archival, and Information Studies. He is
interested in makerspaces, zines, comics, and gaming in libraries.
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