Q: It seems like I’m hearing about challenges happening in many places right now. I’m trying to make sure we’re prepared in case it happens here. What do you think is the most important thing …
Materials Concerns/Challenges
Complainant and Review Committee Information and Roles
Q: Do I send school policies and reviews of a book to a complainant, or just to the review committee? And how do I make sure the Review Committee understands its role? Those are great questions. …
Preparing in Advance for a Complaint
Q: Are there some standard practices I should follow in order to be prepared for a book complaint? (April 2024 update: We’ve provided a follow-up response to this question that offers more information, including slide decks …
Supporting a Colleague Facing a Challenge
Q: Recently there was a book challenge at the library in a neighboring community. I thought often about contacting the librarian in the middle of it all but didn’t know if it would be welcome. …
Should I Contact Author of a Challenged Book
Q: Recently, we had a challenge to a book, and a colleague suggested that I contact the author. I ended up running out of time and never did it, and the outcome was fine (the book …
How Long Does a Banned Book Stay Banned?
Q: When a book is removed from the collection during the reconsideration process, how long do banned resources remain banished? Your question addresses two separate situations: 1) What happens to the material during the reconsideration process? …
Defusing a Confrontational Situation
Q: Can you provide some tips on how to defuse a confrontational situation with someone who has a concern about materials in a library or classroom? First, take a deep breath. Extend a hand to …