The LIANZA Freedom-to-Read Toolkit was created because we could see that Aotearoa was starting to experience an increase in challenges similar to those seen in Australia, Canada, the UK, and particularly the USA. The toolkit was designed to help prepare for the same here, and as predicted, the same types of groups that led the charge in other countries have attempted to make similar headway here, as seen in Trump’s America.

The recent debate around The Treaty Principles Bill, changes to the school curriculum, the removal of Māori government department names, the New Zealand First bill which Winston Peters says would “put an end to the woke left-wing social engineering and diversity targets in the public sector” sound very like the increasingly extreme attacks on free speech and on diversity, equity and inclusion measures happening in the USA. Not only have local banning and defunding of libraries grown in number there, and threats to librarians upholding freedom of information become harsher and more frightening, but the USA has a government that is unashamedly removing information from libraries, archives, museums, and government websites.

Library associations in the USA, Canada, Australia and the UK take a strong role in advocacy for libraries in their country and for the freedom of information. The USA, Canada and Australia have national registers in place to collect numbers and the types of challenges that libraries are experiencing.

The Canadian Library Association data collection has revealed a significant increase in challenges around LGBTIQ+ content and events. They are also seeing a trend towards challenges to books based on race relations. The American Library Association data from 2024 revealed that most book censorship attempts are now originating from organised movements. Pressure groups and government entities, including elected officials, board members, and administrators, initiated 72% of demands to censor books in school and public libraries.

Comprehensive data about challenges gives libraries a deeper understanding of what is being challenged and where it is coming from, which can help libraries create more appropriate policies and be more prepared. National library associations are better equipped to create resources and advise the profession with a richer knowledge of challenges

INTRODUCING THE LIANZA NATIONAL REGISTER FOR LIBRARIES TO REPORT CHALLENGES IN AOTEAROA

The LIANZA Library Challenges Register is based on research into international examples, looking at the tools they used, the methodologies and data types collected. While most challenges are made to public and school libraries, the register is open for all libraries to report, including academic and special libraries, and the National Library of New Zealand.

The register covers challenges to collections, displays, events, and any other action where someone is trying to remove, cancel, or disrupt a library resource or service. We ask how the challenge was received, such as in person, formal complaint process, protest etc, what the topic of the challenge was and what action you took in response.

We encourage every library to add its challenge to the register so that we have the data we need to respond to challenges.

Libraries and library associations can resist censorship and protect their collections, communities and staff by:

• having policies and processes in place
• learning from incidents as they occur
• building allies and supporters in and outside our organisations
• advocacy and raising awareness
• gathering evidence of trends and escalations.

Reporting your data to the register is an important way to help you and the whole library and information community ensure we can deliver free access to information and stories to our users.

This is a simple-to-use webform on the LIANZA website. The information is automatically collected into a database monitored by LIANZA’s Freedom of Information committee. LIANZA will respond where support is needed and will also collate the data to produce trend reports and analysis to help us all respond more effectively, and advocate for the freedom to read.

Have a look at the challenge register page on the website here >

• Talk to your library about setting up a new routine to report challenges.
• If you haven’t already collected this data for your own library, this could provide a tool for you.
• If you already collect this data, you could add retrospective data to the register.
• Take a look at the recording of the webinar on why the register is necessary and how to use it.