Q: I’m not sure what to do when I’m considering selecting a book that is clearly about something controversial. What does having a balanced collection mean? Do I need to always provide a book with …
Public Libraries
Small Press Books
Q: How can I support the inclusion of small press books in the school library and curriculum when there are not professional reviews? We are making an effort to purchase more diverse materials, but the …
Respecting the Right to Challenge Materials
Q: Sometimes when I read about why someone complained about a book, I want to roll my eyes. Obviously, I won’t do this if I’m faced with a challenge, yet moving from understanding that someone …
LGBTQ Materials in Small Public Library
Q: I work in a small public library. I feel that I should be including books with gay, lesbian and transgender content in our collection, but I’m afraid of the possible repercussions. I’m not certain the …
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 …
Covering Words or Images (Expurgation)
Q: My principal and I had a great discussion about what to do when a book is challenged but when I mentioned that a parent might be upset if a book contains a swear word, …
Library Doesn’t Have Policy on Gifts to Collection
Q: I’ve seen the issue of gifts to a library mentioned in a couple of the responses in this forum, and you’ve indicated that it’s important to follow whatever a library’s policy says about accepting gifts …
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 …
Am I Censoring if I Return a Book I Ordered after Seeing It?
Q: I ordered a book for my school library and when I received it and saw it firsthand, I determined that the content was too mature for our book collection, so I didn’t add it. …