Library materials challenges not as common as one might expect

Mar. 1—Whether it be graphic novels, young adult books or even DVDs, public libraries across the country have received complaints about various materials in their collections.

In Longmont, Boulder and the High Plains Library District in Greeley, though, formal requests to have items relocated to a different section of a library or removed altogether don't come up as often as some might expect.

Since starting in November 2022, Longmont Public Library Director Jon Solomon has seen four challenges arise including one for the young adult book "It's Totally Normal! An LGBTQIA+ Guide to Puberty, Sex, and Gender" by Monica Gupta Mehta and Asha Lily Mehta. In that instance, the patron objected to the material being displayed in the new young adult book arrivals due to it containing drawings of human anatomy as they relate to sexual function, according to Solomon.

In another instance, a patron challenged the adult graphic novel "Squeak the Mouse" by Massimo Mattioli because it includes references to graphic sex and death to women.

Solomon noted that challenges to books and other materials are not always to have them permanently removed from the library. Instead, sometimes a challenger wants a book restricted to certain age groups or moved from one location in the library to another — such as from the teen section to the adult area.

The other challenges involved the film "Never Goin' Back" due to drug use and profane language used by two teenage girls in it, and the young adult book "Breakup From Hell" by Davila Cardinal as a result of a patron objecting to the language in the title that could be read by children, according to Solomon.

"The decision we made was that all of these items would remain in our collections and in their respective locations," Solomon said in an email.

The Longmont Public Library, 409 Fourth Ave., adheres to the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights, which states, in part, that "libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment."

Still, someone may formally challenge something in the Longmont Public Library by completing a Request for Evaluation of Library Materials form, which can be obtained at the library and must be returned to the library.

The form would then be reviewed by the library director, Solomon, who often consults with the librarian handling the section where the material in question is available before making his final determination.

Within four weeks, a decision in writing is provided to the individual or group who made the challenge.

"During that period, by policy, the item will remain on the shelves," Solomon said.

Joni Teter, who is a member of the Boulder Library Board of Trustees, said that while the library has received requests to ban books over the years, they have not been as frequent as what some libraries in other parts of the country are experiencing now.

However, library programming, especially story hours with an LGBTQ focus, has received challenges in Boulder, Teter said.

In a form submitted to the Boulder Library Board of Trustees on Jan. 25, an individual objected to drag queen story hours writing, in part, "You must really hate children to want to take away their innocence this way."

In her response to the individual, Teter replied that the Boulder Public Library strives to offer culturally inclusive programming, including drag queen story hours, several times a year.

"These story hours are led by individuals who are caring, compassionate, funny and highly professional," Teter wrote.

Given that it's an election year, and a presidential one at that, Teter expects challenges at the Boulder Public Library to grow.

James Melena, who is the community relations and marketing manager for High Plains Library District, said that the district received three requests for reconsideration in 2023, one in 2022, two in 2021 and one in 2020.

"When we receive a request for reconsideration, it goes to our executive director to review the material, then to our reconsideration committee, made up of members of our board of trustees," Melena said. "At that point they can make the decision of what to do with the material in question. To date, the decision has always been to keep the material."

Neither the Boulder Valley School District nor the St. Vrain Valley School District have received a formal book challenge this school year or last school year, according to district officials, though both have had people complain about specific books during public comment at school board meetings.

During a school board meeting last month, St. Vrain Superintendent Don Haddad responded to a woman from outside the district, in Platteville, asking the district to remove six books — including three that district officials said aren't part of St. Vrain Valley's library collection.

Along with encouraging her to follow the district's process to review books, Haddad said the district honors requests from parents to not allow their child to access specific books, either in class or a school library.

"What we don't want to do is get into the business of letting someone make that decision for somebody else's child," he said at the board meeting.

The Boulder Valley School District didn't take a position on Senate Bill 24-049, which set out to establish a process by which a student, parent or community member may object to materials in a school or public library.

Haddad said he was neutral on the bill and didn't see a need to limit who can share concerns about a book.

"We don't have a line of people challenging books," he said.

Senate Bill 24-049, which set out to make it more difficult to ban books, was shelved in committee earlier this week after many people argued that it would take away local control.

In an interview prior to the bill being voted down, State Rep. Junie Joseph (D-Boulder), who sponsored Senate Bill 24-049, questioned how a community could have equity, inclusion and diversity if it was also banning books.

"Access to information is extremely important," Joseph said. "We are in an election year and it seems that we are in a very, very tense time and a very divisive time."

Reporters Amber Carlson and Amy Bounds contributed to this report.