The Library’s Role in Defending Intellectual Freedom

YA fiction contains some of the most novel, interesting, and cutting-edge content in print today.  YA non-fiction is very honest and straightforward.  Unfortunately, each year YA materials are often among the most challenged, and YA access to information is constantly in danger.  As difficult as it may seem, library staff must stand firm in open collection development practices and in defending access for all.

The ALA (American Library Association) intellectual freedom policies are very clear about the fact that young adults deserve the same access to service and information as any other group using the library.  Librarians must remember:

• It is up to the child and his or her parent to determine what material is appropriate for him or her
• The librarian may not impose his or her own personal or moral views on people seeking information
• Individual parents cannot speak for any children but their own

As always, library staff must vehemently protect a reader’s right to read.  ALA’s Intellectual Freedom Office was created to support libraries in this effort.

It is important for your library to have a standard procedure for handling complaints, including an available “Request for Reconsideration” form.  This form allows you to take a step back from any confrontation and makes clear your intent to:

• Listen to the concerns of the person challenging an item
• Review the request in a fair and just manner
• Ensure the work in its entirety is being reviewed
• Encourage them to take time and think about the big picture/importance of a diversity of points of view within a library

The form itself would generally require the requester/challenger to fill in the following information:

• Book information (title, author, copyright –juvenile, YA or adult)
• Contact information of requester; whether they represent self or group
• To what in the material do you object?  (Please be specific; cite pages and passages – use additional sheet if necessary)  Allow much space here.
• Are your objections based on (check all that apply) religious principles, political beliefs, moral teachings, inaccuracies, other ____
• Did you read the entire work?  _________ If not, what parts did you read?
• What part(s) of the work do you think are accurate and valuable?
• What do you feel would be the result of reading this material?
• What do you believe the theme of this work to be?
• Are you aware of judgments of this work by literary critics?
• For what age group would you recommend this work?
• What action are you requesting the library to take in regard to this work?
• If you were requesting withdrawal of the work, what work would you recommend in its place that would convey as valuable a picture and perspective of the subject treated?

Remember, while every community member has a right to be heard, he/she does not have a right to speak for the community. 

“Banned Books Week” sponsored by ALA each September can provide wonderful YA programming and display opportunities. 

One program, developed by an Oregon public library in cooperation with local schools is a critical analysis session on book banning.  Groups of teens are provided a set of “banned books” (picture books due to time constraint) and are encouraged to look through the books to uncover the reason it was challenged.  After they record their guesses, they reconvene as a group to present each title, give their guess as to the reason, and are confirmed or told the real reason to the surprise and entertainment pleasure of the group. 

The forbidden fruit, rebellion angle of reading a “banned book” plays well with the YA psyche, and YAs are always surprised to find that some of their favorite books have been challenged.  They also are some of the best intellectual freedom advocates because they know just how important access is. 

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