Demise of School Libraries

Book Bans and Censorship

by Michelle Amundson

School libraries are facing several different difficulties these days ranging from budget cuts, transition to online sources and eBooks, to increasing controversy over books in collections.

There has been a spike in books being challenged in both public and school libraries, ALA says an increase of 65% for individual titles, and a whopping 93% increase in public libraries alone (NPR). This is an incredible increase that challenges not only the books but the staff who curate the collections that these libraries hold. Mark Liberman states that “librarians have faced verbal abuse, online harassment, calls for criminal charges, and death threats” based on inclusive and diverse choices for their library collections. This is something that no library staff should have to face because of a disagreement in policy regarding provided library resources.

Despite this increase in opposition regarding specific resources provided, there is still a fight from the other side, those who do not want to have restrictions on resources or information for those that these libraries serve. There is a lawsuit alleging that a Florida county violated the First Amendment when certain books were either removed or restricted from school libraries (Harris). The American Library Association provides support for those dealing with challenges, they even have an Office for Intellectual Freedom that aids in providing support for challenges to materials, services, and even programs that are provided by libraries.

The American Library Association makes the valid point that each family has a right to determine what resources are acceptable for their children and family, and this extends to all families. In asking to remove a book from the collection, a choice is being made not only for one family, but for ALL families.

“Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.”

Learn more about how to handle book challenges at this ALA website.

Receive help or report censorship at this ALA page.

Listen to NPR’s interview regarding increase in book ban attempts here.

Works cited

Harris, Elizabeth A., and Alexandra Alter. "Florida District Is Sued Over Banning Books From School Libraries." New York Times, 18 May 2023, p. B5(L). Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A749637108/OVIC?u=cclc_palomar&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=46e682f2. Accessed 16 May 2024.

"How to Respond to Challenges and Concerns about Library Resources", American Library Association, December 8, 2016

https://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/respond (Accessed May 16, 2024)

Document ID: 33965669-7ff7-4e02-97ee-765ddf13ca0d

Lieberman, Mark. "How School Libraries Buy Books, Struggle for Funds, and Confront Book Bans: An Explainer." Education Week, vol. 42, no. 28, 29 Mar. 2023, p. NA. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A743983030/OVIC?u=cclc_palomar&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=71e3ece4. Accessed 16 May 2024.

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1238647724