Guidelines for public libraries preparing and responding to challenges, as well as helpful resources for reporting and support. Updated in February 2023.
Tips and resources for school libraries to prepare and respond to challenges. Updated in February 2023.
Presented by Martin Garnar (June 7, 2022) Includes guidance how to respond to informal complaints and expressions of concernIncludes personal support available during a reconsideration process and Guiding Documents to Safeguard Intellectual Freedom and Prepare your Library, School or College Against Censorship
"Reporting censorship and challenges to materials, resources, and services is vital to developing the best resources to defend library resources and to protect against challenges before they happen."
Provides confidential support to anyone undergoing a material or service challenge and free consulting services to help you prepare for censorship and implement vital intellectual freedom best practices within your library or school
"This guidance is intended to equip librarians with strategies to navigate online abuse."Checklist for libraries to start thinking about challenge procedures, from the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) Advocacy Committee.
Kelly Jensen writes about trauma and the toll censorship takes on public library workers, citing the research of Urban Librarians Unite. A list of resources appears at the end.
This School Library Journal article outlines how to create a "book resume" with professional reviews, awards, booklists, and news stories, to respond to a challenge.
Before you reinvent the wheel and write your own book resume, search across thousands of book resumes in this Unite Against Book Bans database.
Short post from the Illinois Library Assocation about using de-escalation techniques in materials challenges, including an explanation of the LOWLINE model of de-escalation.
Email the MLA Intellectual Freedom and Social Responsibility Committee at ifsrc@masslib.org to report a challenge in your library.
Submit this form to help compile data about book challenges in MA school libraries. Select the "Report a Book Ban" link or scroll down to report to PEN America.EveryLibrary helps libraries fight threats by offering monetary support through a Rapid Response Fund, providing a petition platform, and making their database of library supporters available. Report a threat to libraries on their page or email info@everylibrary.org.
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund provides a form to "to report censorship or request assistance defending against censorship," plus many more library and educator tools.
The National Council of Teachers of English provides a place to report a censorship incident and "welcome[s] reports from anyone who is aware of current censorship incidents in schools and school libraries."
The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) provides a private and confidential place to report censorship: "NCAC staff will be in contact if we are able to provide assistance or support."
