Navigating Book Challenges During Pride Month: Stories from a Public Librarian

Schools and libraries have been a hot topic of conversation lately, but not necessarily for good reason. In the midst of ongoing battles over censorship and the recent surge in books being challenged, teachers and librarians find themselves facing some serious obstacles. A quick Google search will reveal thousands of articles discussing real-life instances of these conflicts.

June marks Pride Month, a time to reflect on the history of LGBTQ+ rights in the US, while also celebrating the many achievements of people in the LGBTQ+ community. Pride Month is a great opportunity for libraries to embrace pride by highlighting resources and library materials and offering programs to their communities. However, we cannot overlook the fact that recent censorship issues have disproportionately affected the LGBTQ community. When Pride Month and censorship battles collide, what exactly are we supposed to do?

As librarians committed to upholding free speech and access to books, we find ourselves facing a dilemma: Do we fight or do we yield? Now, I don’t claim to have all the answers, nor do I consider myself anything close to an authority on this matter, but it’s a topic I feel strongly about. Despite being relatively new to the library field with just six years of experience, I’ve already encountered several challenges related to this very issue. Today, I’d like to share my own stories, explore possible ways to address these issues, and perhaps vent a little along the way.

My Library Battles: Personal Encounters with Book Challenges

In my current position at a mid-sized public library, we encountered a situation several days before Pride Month even began. A few patrons voiced their objections to the mere possibility of a pride book display as well as an already planned Pride Storytime. It’s worth mentioning that last year, before my time at this library, the children’s department faced filming and harassment at a community event during Pride Month. Ironically, one of the books that was targeted at this event had no LGBT themes – it simply had the word “rainbow” in the title, but was, in fact, about a garden. I think this really sheds light on the insincere intentions of certain individuals who are causing all the commotion.

Now, let me tell you another story…one in which I was directly involved. During my first “real” librarian job back in 2020, I worked in a children’s department where my supervisor tasked me with creating a display for Pride Month. I compiled a diverse collection of books, ranging from picture books to chapter books, and I designed a flier with a rainbow heart. And I kid you not, within a couple hours of setting up the display, a patron expressed outrage. A mother, who was with her toddler, demanded we remove the display, claiming that it had no place in a children’s room. She then scolded us for “enticing” her child with a rainbow heart.

Here are a few of the books that were featured on the display in question:

Needless to say… we did not take the display down. We also did not attempt to argue with her. Instead, we offered her a form to file a formal complaint and invited her to attend the next library board meeting to voice her concerns. She did, in fact, attend the board meeting, where she angrily read a long-winded speech from her phone, expressing her disapproval of the display, using religion as her rationale. We temporarily took the books down from the display for the board members and meeting attendees to review. While I didn’t personally attend, the general consensus at the meeting, according to our library director, was that the books were written for children and therefore, were suitable for the children’s room, despite this particular woman’s feelings of outrage.

Now, I just want to clarify: I am very open to listening to people’s concerns and I respect genuine inquiries. However, this particular incident felt more like an attack rather than an opportunity for dialogue or mutual understanding. It seemed that the patron had no interest in learning or hearing our reasons for creating a Pride Month display, but simply wanted to dictate how we run the community’s library based on her personal beliefs, and her beliefs solely.

To the lady in question (although it’s highly unlikely she will come across this message):

While I couldn’t say this to you at the time as it was not my place, I want to use this platform to highlight that we operate as a public library, emphasis on the word “public.” We offer books covering a wide range of subjects, representing people from diverse backgrounds and beliefs. The library belongs to EVERYONE and does not need to conform exclusively to your personal beliefs and ideas. 

Consider the possibility that your child may grow up and identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. (I know that’s a scary thought for you, but let me tell you, it’s a very real possibility.) What kind of example are you setting for your child by throwing a tantrum in a public building, speaking down to library staff because of a rainbow heart and some children’s books? Please don’t teach your child that if they grow up and fall in love with someone of a certain gender that they are worthy of disdain. Please don’t teach your child to needlessly mistreat public workers when they don’t get their way.

As a public library, one of our responsibilities is provide a diverse collection of books, while highlighting relevant topics. Since it was Pride Month, we naturally focused on materials related to pride, just as we do with other subjects throughout the year. The materials we highlighted were age appropriate and written for children. We did not select inappropriate materials geared towards adults – that would be a different story. With that being said, you have the freedom to notice, look away, and move on. You are not obliged to check out books from a display or ANY books that you don’t want to, and you don’t have to agree with the contents of these books. You even have the right to file a complaint if you so choose. That is your right. However, we will not deny others’ rights to access these materials due to your discomfort.

Strategies for Handling Book Challenges at Your Library

Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, let’s fast forward to today. As cathartic as it is to rant, I think it’s important to talk about real potential strategies for dealing with these very real issues. Fellow librarians, here are a few suggestions for what you can do if confronted with similar challenges during Pride Month and beyond:

1. Host staff trainings: Equip staff with the knowledge and skills necessary to handle contentious situations safely and effectively. For instance, in response to challenges at my current library, our library staff underwent a training from a public attorney on what to do when books or programs are challenged. If you don’t have the authority to organize staff trainings, suggest it to your supervisor or director.
2. Utilize online resources: Check out the American Library Association’s website which lists available resources and guidance on handling book challenges.
3. Create a strong collection development policy: Establish a comprehensive policy for selecting and acquiring materials, ensuring a balanced and diverse collection that meets the needs and interests of your community. When a book is challenged, you can refer to this policy instead of arguing with patrons.
4. Create a strong reconsideration policy and provide forms for complaints: Provide patrons with a formal process for filing complaints about specific materials. This approach ensures that patrons feel heard while maintaining professionalism.
5. Stay strong, and stay safe: As librarians, I think we often feel that it is our duty to uphold the principles of intellectual freedom and provide access to books. I think we can remain committed to our goals while also staying somewhat calm and neutral when a disgruntled member of the public confronts us. We don’t need to be intimidated into removing books from our collection, but we also shouldn’t feel unsafe in the name of our ideals. That’s why it’s crucial to use de-escalation tactics and to have tools in place, such as complaint forms for patrons, and strong collection development and reconsideration policies. Implementing these measures is easier said than done, but it’s important to remember that our safety is extremely important as we interact with the public on a daily basis.

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To my fellow librarians and to anyone affected by censorship challenges, please share your stories and insights in the comments. Feel free to discuss how you’ve handled challenges at your library, school, or elsewhere.

Thank you so much for reading, and happy Pride Month!