WHAT IS A CHALLENGE?
BACKGROUND
A challenge is when someone attempts to censor, remove, or restrict access to a publication, either so that it can’t be accessed at all, or that it becomes hard to access.
- Challenged items can be in any format: printed books, e-books, DVDs, or content on a streaming site your library offers a subscription to.
- Challenges can include things inside the library, like an event the library holds or hosts, a themed display, or an exhibition. A challenge can come from anyone: a patron, members of the public, parents, an organisation, or internally from a staff member.
- Sometimes, challenges can be justified. There are arguments for protecting people from certain information, and there is legislation to ensure this. Alternatively, a library may remove or restrict access to an item based on its collection scope, policy documents, values, or the values of its parent organisation.
WHY DO PEOPLE CHALLENGE PUBLICATIONS?
Challenges reflect people’s beliefs about what they think is right and wrong. These beliefs might be specific to a person’s culture, religion, upbringing, or their own ideas. Crucially though, a challenge occurs when a person attempts to impose their views on what they think is objectionable on others. They are trying to determine what others can access based on their beliefs. The opposite of this is accepting and tolerating ideas that we find wrong, harmful, or offensive; core principles of freedom of expression, speech, and information that libraries stand for.
It is important to recognise that a challenger usually comes from a place of believing they are advancing the common good and preventing harm to others. This is important to keep in mind if you are confronted with a challenge.
PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHALLENGE CONTENT THEY THINK WILL DO HARM
Libraries must have policies and processes and staff training in place to ensure challenges are treated respectfully and investigated judiciously. These policies and processes should be clear and transparent for staff and for challengers.
LIBRARIES HAVE THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE THEIR COLLECTION CONTENT
The International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) recommends that librarians lead decisions around collecting and selecting library materials using their professional knowledge, not political, moral, or religious views.
This statement was made by former IFLA President Barbara Lison in June 2023 in response to increased efforts to remove or ban books from library collections.
“This is essential if libraries are to be able to pursue their mission to be gateways to knowledge, rather than gatekeepers, supporting the intellectual freedom which is vital for both individual and societal development, innovation creativity, and the realisation of human rights.”
IN THE USA - BEYOND BOOK BANS
Censorship efforts in the 2020s have moved beyond concerned parents to include restrictive legislation, library board power plays, and defunding:
"Not only are we seeing more challenges, but the nature of these challenges has changed," says Public Library Association President Maria McCauley. "In the past, most of the challenges came from individual parents or caregivers about individual books. Today we are seeing small groups of people challenging multiple books they have not read. Even more worrisome, some lawmakers are using the power of government to limit the freedom to read."
Steve Zalusky, Library Journal, 03630277, Vol. 148, Issue 4.