Month: March 2024

A recent surge in book challenges and attempts to censor or remove library materials is negatively impacting libraries and their communities across the country. In response to growing censorship attempts, the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom provides support to libraries and library professionals through legal and strategic guidance. Bok challenges and attempts to remove materials from libraries are referred to by the ALA as acts of censorship and intimidation (ALA Statement on Book Censorship, 2021).

From 2022 to 2023, public libraries saw a 92% increase in the number of unique titles targeted for censorship (Book Challenges Set New Record, 2024). To brace for the increase in potential material challenges, public library staff must work on improving their conflict resolution skills and preparedness. Staff should familiarize themselves with their library’s selection and reconsideration policies and feel comfortable answering patron’s questions and concerns. Communicating clearly and consistently to patrons about their policies relating to challenged materials will build transparency and improve trust between patrons and the library (SinhaRoy, 2023). This is especially important because hyperlinked libraries promote transparency and trust by welcoming user feedback and communicating honestly about policies and procedures.

Figure 1: A graph showing the attempted number of book challenges since 2000. From 2020 to 2023, the number of unique titles challenged increased from 223 titles to 4,240 titles (Book Challenges Set New Record, 2024).

The increasing number of book challenges is evidence of an organized conservative political movement with goals that include removing books and materials that contain content that does not meet their approval or is deemed sexually explicit and inappropriate for young readers. Many challenged materials are about race, history, gender identity, sexuality, and reproductive health. The majority of challenged titles are written by or about members of the LGBTQIA+ community or by and about Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color (Censorship by the Numbers, 2023).

As a public library support staff member at the San Jose Public Library, I am grateful that the area where I live and work is generally open-minded, supportive, and inclusive of multiple perspectives and voices. I have not personally experienced a patron challenging our library’s materials. However, I am aware that book challenges and patron complaints regarding the materials in our collections have occurred within the library system. As a result, our team has been tasked with familiarizing ourselves with the library’s selection and reconsideration policies and trained in conflict resolution. Consistency in staff responses to material challenges and patron concerns not only improves transparency between the library and its users but also helps staff form a unified front. In the words of Leander (Texas) Independent School District’s library coordinator Becky Calzada: “We [library staff] need to lock arms and stand strong together,” (SinhaRoy, 2023).

Figure 2: A heat map of the United States showing the number of attempts to challenge books in 2022. The details for California are highlighted, revealing 32 attempts to restrict access to books. While this is not a particularly low number, it is lower than the number of attempts in other states, such as Texas (93) and Pennsylvania (56) (Censorship by the Numbers, 2023).

References

ALA Statement on Book Censorship. (2021, November 29). Advocacy, Legislation & Issues. https://www.ala.org/advocacy/statement-regarding-censorship

Book Challenges Set New Record in 2023. (2024, March 14). American Libraries Magazine. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/book-challenges-set-new-record-in-2023/

Censorship by the Numbers. (2023, April 20). Advocacy, Legislation & Issues. https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/by-the-numbers

SinhaRoy, S. (2023, June 27). Become Challenge-Ready. American Libraries Magazine. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/become-challenge-ready/

Libraries engage with hyperlinked communities of all kinds by finding ways to be present in the lives of their users, letting them know what the library can do for them, and giving them a reason to depend on us. To reach library users and provide them with services that will benefit them, library staff must actively reach out and make connections with their users (Stephens, 2016). Hyperlinked community engagement and library outreach services strengthen community-library partnerships and can take many forms. Focusing on which underserved groups would benefit from additional services can help libraries narrow the scope of their outreach endeavors. It is important to think strategically and prioritize the library’s messaging, communications, and online presence. (Los Angeles Public Library, 2015).

San Jose Public Library’s Outreach Services

The San Jose Public Library (SJPL) is committed to connecting with and listening to its users. SJPL has a variety of ongoing community engagement endeavors both virtually in the form of surveys and blog posts on their website and in-person at schools, farmer’s markets, festivals, neighborhood association meetings, and Community Conversation events. SJPL uses community feedback to guide its community-library partnerships, develop strategic plans, and improve library services (Maglio & Langner, n.d.).

The SJPL website contains updates on its recent community engagement outings. Senior Librarian Melissa Maglio writes quarterly blog posts to share what the library has learned from its communities by visiting local public events. During community outreach events, librarians ask residents and neighbors questions regarding the kind of community they would like to live in, any concerns they have about their neighborhood, and what kind of services and programs they would like to see at their libraries (Maglio, 2024). This is a great way to get feedback from library users and community members on how SJPL can improve library services.

Figure 1: A librarian from San Jose Public Library’s Vineland Library performing outreach services at the Princeton Plaza Farmer’s Market (Maglio, 2024).

References

Los Angeles Public Library. (2015). IMLS Focus: Engaging Communities. https://www.imls.gov/sites/default/files/whitepaper_convening3_final_9-2-2015_tagged.pdf

Maglio, M. (2024, February 13). Community Engagement: What We’ve Learned From Listening to our Communities (Winter 2023). https://www.sjpl.org/blogs/post/community-engagement-what-weve-learned-from-listening-to-our-communities-winter-2023/

Maglio, M., & Langner, I. (n.d.). Community Engagement: Your Voice Matters. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.sjpl.org/community-engagement/

Stephens, M. (2016). The Heart of Librarianship: Attentive, Positive, and Purposeful Change. American Library Association.