A few days ago I received a request for reconsideration for the book “Gender Queer” by Maia Kobabe. I’m currently reading it and will meet this week or next with the patron who submitted it. Since the request, two articles about local challenges to this particular title have appeared online–one of them about the challenge here at JPL and the other about a challenge at the Waukee School District. As you know, withdrawing materials based on these kinds of objections flies in the face of the fundamental principles of public librarianship outlined eloquently in ALA’s Freedom to Read Statement. Our Request for Reconsideration Policy states that “the library recognizes that any given item may offend some patrons but will not remove specific titles solely because individuals or groups find them objectionable.” Given the publicity about the challenge, patrons may ask about it. Listen to what they have to say but please don’t give an opinion on the challenge or the book. How librarians respond to these kinds of challenges should not be directed by personal taste. As “The Freedom to Read Statement” states, “Publishers, librarians, and booksellers do not need to endorse every idea…they make available. It would conflict with the public interest for them to establish their own political, moral, or aesthetic views as a standard for determining what should be… circulated.” If a patron wants to discuss this particular title or our reconsideration policy, refer them to Molly or myself. I’ve included a link to the challenge below as well as one to an interesting article from the author on recent challenges to their book.
Request for Reconsideration – Gender Queer
Opinion: Schools are banning my book. But queer kids need queer stories.