I’m A Librarian. How Should I Handle Fights Over Book Removals?

I serve in a director position at the district level of our school system. As certain organizations single out books with specific themes they feel shouldn’t be in school libraries, my role is to facilitate a committee that will evaluate those books and determine if they should be removed or remain in our libraries. How do I properly view my role in light of what God is clear about in his Word? And while my opinion is in the minority, do I speak against every other person in our committee and at the district level who feels that these books shouldn’t be removed?

Libraries are important community institutions. Public libraries often serve a broad constituency with a wide range of beliefs. It’s no surprise, therefore, that there have been battles over the contents of public library collections for their entire existence.

Constant debates about library content drove the American Library Association (ALA) to publish a “Library Bill of Rights.” One of its key ideas is that “materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.”

The bias of this Bill of Rights is toward unfettered free expression. The organization’s Code of Ethics calls for librarians to “resist all efforts to censor library resources.” Furthermore, their tool kit for the process of “formal reconsideration”—that is, the steps to remove an item from a library’s collection based on content concerns—makes it difficult to overcome a librarian’s decision about a book. And the official ALA website encourages leveraging media against committee decisions that run contrary to a librarian’s initial judgment.

All of this means the process of challenging resources in a library collection is intentionally onerous. The attempt to remove or reshelve content may come with substantial personal and professional costs for those with unpopular views. However, faithfulness to God’s goodness and truth is nonnegotiable for Christians. Here are a few principles to help you in your role.

Recognize the Function of a Public Library

One challenge of living and working within a society that values free expression and religious liberty is that many people say and believe untrue things. Our ability to freely proclaim the gospel in the United States entails a willingness to allow others to promote their understanding of truth in public. The bias toward free expression in library collections can cut both ways.

The bias toward free expression in library collections can cut both ways.

Additionally, it’s important to have opposing positions represented well so people can understand them. A book may positively describe Islam, which is a false religion, yet be important for understanding world events.

These days, public school libraries are less likely to face challenges due to the promotion of a false religion and more likely to wrestle over the age appropriateness of sexual content. In a 2023 U.S. Senate hearing, numerous examples of content from challenged books were read into the record. Some of the examples are extremely graphic and promote potentially damaging acts, such as anal sex and sex between adults and minors.

Some states have laws that prohibit some types of content, including sexually explicit content, from being presented to minors. The ALA tracks laws that both prohibit harmful content and promote an absolutized vision for free expression. It’s important to understand the laws in your state.

At some level, determining what constitutes harmful content is subjective. Christians serving on a reconsideration committee should allow their biblically informed conscience to shape their vote, and they should feel justified in voting to remove or reshelve content.

Oppose the Content, Not the Proponent

It can feel frustrating to hold a minority position on a committee. However, remember that committee members with opposing views aren’t the enemy, though they may represent a position hostile to God’s truth (see Eph. 6:12).

Separating a person from his or her ideas can be incredibly difficult, especially since our culture often blurs identities with opinions. However, when we’re in debates, we need to do our best to focus on the ideas under consideration rather than the person who advocates for them.

Paul encouraged Timothy to be kind, endure evil, and “[correct] opponents with gentleness” in hope that God will “grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 2:23–26). We should seek to do the same, even when we disagree substantially on important issues.

Make Faithfulness Your Primary Goal

According to the Heidelberg Catechism, good works require (1) true faith, (2) conformity to God’s law, and (3) pursuit of God’s glory. None of these attributes requires a successful outcome. The fruits of the Spirit, after all, are character traits, not production goals.

Our aim should be to pursue faithfulness in the face of adversity, even when the outcome doesn’t fall our way. After all, Caleb and Joshua were counted faithful, though the other 10 spies convinced the Israelites not to follow God’s commands (Num. 14:30). When the new creation dawns, we’ll see God’s will enacted on earth as it is in heaven. We need to pursue faithfulness by doing everything for the glory of God while trusting him with the outcome.

Promote Better Collection Development

The best way to fight inappropriate or untruthful books is by recommending to your library books that are good, true, and beautiful. Individual librarians exert substantial influence over the content of their collections. This speaks to the need for Christians to become qualified and work in public libraries to help improve collection development.

The most successful answer to bad speech is often better speech.

Additionally, community members should use available administrative processes to recommend high-quality, well-produced resources for their local libraries. Most libraries post their collection development guidelines publicly or will provide them on request. Since many librarians are unfamiliar with Christian resources, it may be necessary to provide book reviews, award results, or other evidence of a book’s value.

As a Christian involved in the reconsideration process, one of your greatest opportunities may be in helping parents and students understand the system and work to improve collections over the long term.