Intellectual Freedom Committee

The best way to mitigate resource challenges is to have a good defense. Your defense includes your library's policies (notably your selection policy), your library's reconsideration process, and staff and board training. The link below takes you to an American Library Association Toolkit that provides public, school, and academic libraries information on selection policy and the reconsideration procedure. The selection policy section walks you through the creation of the policy covering topics such as selection criteria, collection maintenance, and reconsideration. The section on reconsideration procedure provides topics to be included as well as a sample form and letter.

Selection and Reconsideration Policy Toolkit

When a challenge is initiated, the first step is to begin the reconsideration process. The link below will take you to an American Library Association web page that goes through some of the steps that you can consider when a challenge is underway. A sample form is hyperlinked within the linked site, but you can also find these resources in the Selection and Reconsideration Policy Toolkit, referenced in the previous section.

Formal Requests for Reconsideration

Censorship is a serious concern within all libraries within the United States. Because of this, it is important to report any challenges or censorship to both the American Library Association and the Pennsylvania Library Association so that your library can receive proper support. The American Library Association collects data on challenges so that it can properly report statistics on censorship, making this reporting essential. You can report censorship to the American Library Association by clicking "REPORT CENSORSHIP NOW" below. To report censorship to the Pennsylvania Library Association, email the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Library Association.

REPORT CENSORSHIP NOW - To report censorship to the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom.

FIGHT CENSORSHIP Resources - This resource covers the following topics: challenge preparedness, supporting library workers, state & local resources, books & webinars, social media tools, and additional resources. Some of the resources are from Unite Against Book Bans and I love Libraries.

Report Censorship Toolkit - This page provides more information on reporting challenges and taking action. It provides sample social media posts, which are informative, but not for posting by libraries for patrons.

When a challenge is brought to the attention of the library, a library worker may have to explain the reconsideration process, listen to what upsets the patron, or handle other verbal concerns. It may be helpful to have a list of steps or points to use when hearing patrons out and how to provide reconsideration forms if necessary. How you handle a challenge and respond to a patron will influence how that patron reacts, which may make de-escalation or other techniques necessary. This makes staff training and policy transparency key to helping frontline staff be up to date on how to handle challenges. The below links provide some guidance and steps on what to do when a patron confronts a frontline worker regarding the appropriateness of a resource.

How to Respond to Challenges and Concerns about Library Resources - This resource provides a step-by-step process on how to handle informal complaints and expressions of concern from acknowledging the patron's concern to providing the documents necessary to initiate a challenge.

Handling Challenges - This resource encourages preparation by regularly reviewing current policies with staff and briefly discusses the importance of having a diverse collection to support the community's needs. It also gives some points on how to be friendly and professional when addressing concerned patrons.

How to Deal with the Grumpy Patron - This brief article discusses some tips on how to handle grumpy or upset patrons. It encourages staff to listen to the patron and to lower their voice to hopefully keep the patron calm.

The public may become aware of challenges through a plethora of channels, such as by word of mouth. When this happens, it may be necessary to discuss these issues with the public through public meetings or through the media. Although these challenges may seem scary, we have a few resources to help you. If you need more assistance, do not hesitate to reach out to the Pennsylvania Library Association or the American Library Association.

Guidance for Holding a Public Meeting - This resource by the American Library Association provides information on how to handle public meetings, both before and during the meeting.

Working with the Media - This resource by the American Library Association provides information on how to work with the media. One of the tips includes having only one spokesperson. This page also provides guidance on dealing with controversy and negative publicity.

Working with Community Leaders - This resource by the American Library Association discusses what you need to know when working with community leaders, from a working knowledge of intellectual freedom and censorship to how to engage with community leaders and the community at large.

Children's Materials are often the target of challenges and censorship. Because of this, it is important to know how to handle these challenges. What are the rights of Children? What rights do parents and guardians have? Are we seeing these challenges in both school and public libraries? When these challenges occur, it is important to be able to answer questions such as these to make the best determination for the challenge at hand. The below resource by the American Library Association answers commonly asked questions to discuss with patrons such as why adults cannot tell librarians what materials children can have access to. If you have other questions, you can reach out to either the Pennsylvania Library Association or the American Library Association.

Answering Questions about Youth and Access to Library Resources

We urge everyone to fight censorship, and show your commitment by signing on to www.UniteAgainstBookBans.org! The Pennsylvania Library Association is a proud partner in this important work. The site provides information on Right to Read Day, held during National Library Week, a useful toolkit for librarians, book ban data, and book résumes. The book résumes can be very useful in challenges as they provide support for the book, such as awards it has won and statements regarding the book.

The American Library Association launched its #ForOurLibraries campaign in January 2025 to help libraries with advocacy and building relationships. This resource provides resources to help librarians and library staff build relationships with elected officials through the use of library tours and advocacy. There is a section to share your story with ALA and one to take action. You can tell members of Congress to Show Up for Our Libraries through the site and sign up to receive advocacy updates and opportunities from the American Library Association. You can access the site by clicking here. To sign up to receive advocacy updates, click here to fill out the form.

Intellectual Freedom Core Documents

Library Bill of Rights - This resource provides the basic policies that should guide library services. This document is essential in understanding intellectual freedom and all library staff should be familiar with this document. This document would be a smart inclusion when selecting materials to include in your reconsideration packets.

Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights - The Library Bill of Rights has been interpreted for many different situations, and these interpretations are documented in this resource. Some interpretations include: challenged resources, evaluating library collections, and privacy. There are many different interpretations and it would be useful to look for one that will help you with your challenge.

Code of Ethics of the American Library Association - This document provides a framework for what librarians and library staff should strive to provide in their day-to-day operations. It makes broad statements regarding patron privacy and intellectual freedom.

Freedom to Read Statement - This statement defends our patrons' freedom to read whatever materials that they wish. While our freedom to read is constantly under attack and misinformation and propaganda exist, it is essential that libraries provide a diverse section of resources to cover multiple points of view. Because of the importance of this document, it is a joint statement by both the American Library Association and the Association of American Publishers. It has also been endorsed by multiple other organizations.

ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom - The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom provides support and consulting services for libraries. It is the office within the American Library Association that is most active in challenges to intellectual freedom.

Banned & Challenged Books - Provides data on the most challenged books and also has some resources to help with book challenges.

Office for Intellectual Freedom Blog - Has collocations of articles every so often on a lot of intellectual freedom topics. If you want to know what is going on around the United States regarding intellectual freedom, check this site out.

Sign up for the OIF Intellectual Freedom Newsletter - This is a free weekly compilation of news from ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. It includes information on book challenges, censorship, privacy, academic freedom, free speech, and more. Past issues are accessible on the blog, mentioned above.

Freedom to Read Foundation - This is a separate entity from the American Library Association with its own membership requirements, but it is related to the American Library Association and has a similar mission as the freedom to read is concerned.

ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom - If you would like to follow the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom on Facebook, it is free to do so, and you do not have to be a member of the American Library Association. You can follow them at this link. For Bluesky, click here.

ALA Intellectual Freedom Round Table - If you would like to follow the Intellectual Freedom Round Table on Facebook, it is free to do so, and you do not have to be a member of the American Library Association or the Round Table. You can follow them at this link.