Collection Management (Library Learning)
Suggested resources to help librarians prepare and respond to challenges.
Prepare
The following actions will help you prepare for a potential challenge:
- Develop a written collection development policy
- Identify the criteria used in selection
- Outline the procedure for handling complaints and challenges
- Provide training to library board members and staff on how intellectual freedom is addressed at the library
- Offer library programs, such as Banned Books Week that that support the Freedom to Read.
- Share information about your library's collection development policy and commitment to intellectual freedom
- ABLE Collection Development CoursesSeries of self-paced, online collection development courses developed by the Idaho Library Commission. Series includes Collection Development Basics, Collection Development Policy, Building a Collection and Collection Maintenance.
- Practicing Intellectual Freedom in Libraries [video]During this 1-hour webinar, "Shannon Oltman provides a framework for understanding and practicing intellectual freedom in the library."
- A Proactive Approach to Book ChallengesNovember 18, 2021
Adventures of Library Girl! blog post by Jennifer LaGarde outlining how she developed a library advisory committee to support her and the library in advance of and during challenges. - Selection Tools for Books, Video and Computer SoftwareA list of links to book review and audio-visual review websites. Focus is on resources for children, teens and young adults.
Respond
Once you have received a formal written challenge you will want to closely follow your collection development's reconsideration procedures. Below are some general recommendations you may find helpful.
- Take a deep breath and remember you aren't alone
- Seek support and advice from ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom and AkLA Intellectual Roundtable
- Inform your library board and Supervisor and City/Borough attorney of the challenge
- Activate and support the reconsideration committee
- Provide committee members with copies of challenged title
- Provide committee members with copies of reviews, awards, or any prior challenges the title has received
- Provide committee members with copies of library's collection development policy and relevant intellectual freedom documents
- Schedule reconsideration committee meeting to discuss challenge
- Reconsideration committee determination
- Remove item from library
- Retain item in the library
- Relocate the item to another section of the library
- Provide patron with a written letter detailing the process and the committee's final determination
- ALA Challenge Support: Tools, Publications & ResourcesInformation on how to respond when your library receives a formal challenge, suggested guidelines for reconsideration committee members and for dealing with the media.
- Reporting Challenges [video]This 2:30 minute video explains how to report challenges to library or school materials to the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom
- AkLA Intellectual Freedom CommitteeIn keeping with their mission of promoting intellectual freedom in Alaska, the Intellectual Freedom Committee is monitoring potential censorship and challenges to school and library materials.
Resources
- Introduction to Intellectual Freedom [video]This 4:28 minute video explains what intellectual freedom is and why is it important.
American Library Association Emerging Leader Project 2019
Sponsored by Intellectual Freedom Roundtable - National Coalition Against CensorshipResponding to Book Challenges: A Handbook for Educators
- Youth Resource FAQProvides answers for questions on why are "these books" in my library?
Protecting Intellectual Freedom in Your Public Library by ISBN: 9780838935835Publication Date: 2012-04-03A concise summary of what's at stake and how to react, Protecting Intellectual Freedom in Your Public Library will prepare public library personnel to face the issues at hand.
Practicing Intellectual Freedom in Libraries by ISBN: 9781440863127Publication Date: 2019-08-15All librarians and library and information science scholars can benefit from learning more about intellectual freedom. This book relies on research and practical real-world scenarios to conceptualize and contextualize it. Practicing Intellectual Freedom in Libraries is helpful for a wide range of people, from those only starting to learn about intellectual freedom to those more well-versed in the subject.
Intellectual Freedom Manual by ISBN: 9780838912928Publication Date: 2015-04-20Since it was established in 1967, ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) has championed the rights of library users to seek and receive information on all subjects from all points of view without restriction and without having the subject of one's interest examined or scrutinized by others. The new edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual is more than just an invaluable compendium of guiding principles and policies. It's also an indispensable resource for day-to-day guidance on maintaining free and equal access to information for all people.
Protecting the Right to Read by ISBN: 1555702163Publication Date: 1995-01-01This work aims to provide public and school librarians with the strategies and information needed to protect against censorship and safeguard the community's right to unfettered access to information. The topics covered include intellectual freedom principles, library policies and censorship.
