Can a School Library Be Challenge-Proof?

Many school librarians fear facing a challenge to a resource in their libraries. Some even try to avoid a challenge by not selecting books that may be considered controversial. Library supervisors or principals who are also concerned about challenges may peruse the titles in a book order and cross out those that seem provocative or controversial.

Although there are books that have been challenged repeatedly in school libraries, no individual can know for certain what books or other resources will trigger a challenge. This fact is evident when checking the books listed by the American Library Association (ALA) as the "Frequently Challenged Books of the 21st Century." Titles range from The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini to the Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey to Go Ask Alice by Anonymous to Bridge to Terebithia by Katherine Paterson. A diverse variety of books including Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak, and Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture by Michael A. Bellesiles have also been targets of censors ( http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/21stcenturychallenged/index.com ). The practice of self-censorship because of the fear of challenges is not a practical or ethical solution.

Is Challenge-Proofing a Collection Possible?

Is there any way other than self-censorship that a school librarian can guarantee no resource will ever be challenged? The answer to that question is "no." In reality, any book or other library resource may be offensive to and questioned by a parent, principal, teacher, community member, or student. As discussed in "The Freedom to Question: Challenges in School Libraries," challenges are most frequently initiated by parents and principals ( SLMAM, November 2009). Since no one can predict which books or other resources will be challenged or who will express a concern, a more effective approach is to take proactive steps toward creating a climate where the principles of intellectual freedom are understood and the legal right of minors to receive information in the school library is acknowledged.

Have school librarians become advocates for intellectual freedom and the First Amendment rights of minors in school libraries? Have they undertaken actions to prepare for a challenge before it occurs? The checklist on page 49 is an attempt to help school librarians develop a school culture where a challenge to a library resource can be managed successfully through school policy. School librarians can determine the vulnerability of their libraries to challenges by completing the "Challenge-Proofing Your School Library Checklist."

What's Your Score?

If more of your answers fall in the "not yet" column, begin to plan how to accomplish each task. Achieving every item on the checklist will take time, but the result will be the evolution of a group of knowledgeable allies who will support more readily the retention of a questioned title when a challenge occurs. It will also result in your being a school librarian who is confident, not fearful, when facing a challenge.

References:

Adams, Helen R. Ensuring Intellectual Freedom and Access to Information in the School Library Media Program. Libraries Unlimited, 2008.

American Association of School Librarians. Standards for the 21st-Century Learner. ALA, 2007. http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/guidelinesandstandards/learning standards/standards.com (accessed July 31, 2009).

American Library Association. "Most Frequently Challenged Books of the 21st Century." http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/21stcenturychallenged/index.com (accessed June 28, 2009).