Who can request removal of offensive books in Columbus libraries? That policy has changed
Before this vote, anyone offended by an item in the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries collection could have submitted a request for it to be removed. But that policy change when the CVL board approved the director’s recommendation Thursday.
The board unanimously approved the policy amendment proposed by Director Alan Harkness, who was named the state’s library director of the year in January by the Georgia Public Library Service.
The amendment changes the phrase denoting who may request reconsideration of materials from “any individual” to “any resident of the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries Service Area.”
That service area comprises seven libraries serving the counties of Muscogee, Chattahoochee, Marion and Stewart.
“This is a trend in public libraries nationally to ensure that only local residents have influence over a local collection,” Harkness told the Ledger-Enquirer in an email. “We haven’t had any issues in this area, but it is a good thing to consider proactively.”
Why recommend this change for Chattahoochee Valley?
Only four challenges of an item in CVL’s collection have been submitted since Harkness was hired 11 years ago, according to the records he shared with the Ledger-Enquirer. All of those requests were from residents of Columbus, so what prompted Harkness to recommend changing the policy?
“I cannot point to any particular incident,” he wrote. “This is more about what I’ve read in the literature/news over time, and have noticed other libraries adopting.”
Harkness said he started thinking about such a change last year, when the board amended its policy to allow only residents in the CVL service area to speak during the public portion of its meetings.
“This is the same spirit I’m suggesting for reconsideration of materials,” he wrote. “Those that live here (and pay taxes) get to influence the decision-making, the process. It is better to have that thought through ahead of time, rather than be on one’s back foot for lack of foresight.”
What has been requested for removal in Chattahoochee Valley?
A committee of library staff members considers each request, Harkness said. None of the four submitted requests resulted in removal, but two of them prompted the CVL to make some changes.
On March 29, 2018, Recheal Jacobs of Columbus objected to the content in an ebook, “Dark Cities” by Sherrilyn Kenyon et al, at the North Columbus Public Library.
“The collection of short stories begins with a story that contains bestiality and depicts a dog raping a woman,” Jacobs wrote. “The theme centers upon promoting things that are vile and unlawful. Please withdraw this book. I feel that this type of material could be read by a high school student or younger.”
In his April 4, 2018, letter to Jacobs, Harkness explained why he agrees with the committee’s decision to retain the book.
“The book featured numerous popular authors, including Sherilynn Kenyon, Cherie Priest, and Paul Tremblay, who have been regularly read and requested by library users,” Harkness wrote. “This particular title has been checked out five times this year. We know that all materials in our collection are not for everyone, and we aim to provide something for all members of our diverse community.”
On Sept. 20, 2019, Francine Andrews of Columbus objected to the content in a book, “The Truly Brave Princesses” by Delores Brown, at the Columbus Public Library.
“I object to the page in the book referring to two princesses being married,” Andrews wrote. “My daughter is only 3 years old, and this is a distasteful impression to display to toddlers. I would like the library to both re-evaluate and withdraw this book from the children’s section.”
In his Sept. 25, 2019, letter to Andrews, Harkness explained the decision to retain the book.
“Library professional publications highlighted the book’s celebration of diversity among women and ‘real-life princesses,’” Harkness wrote.
He also referenced four published reviews praising the book.
In both of those letters, Harkness added, “The American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, Freedom to Read and Freedom to View documents serve as guidelines for our collection development policy. We do not endorse all opinions expressed in all of our materials.”
On May 22, 2022, Adam Hon of Columbus objected to the content in a book, “You Know, Sex” by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth, at the North Columbus Public Library.
“This book not only explains sex to children, it teaches masturbation, homo-sex, trans-gender sex, and a whole lot more that children should not be able to access in a public library,” Hon wrote. “… Sex should be explained at home by parents to their own children. Please withdraw this book and any other books in the children’s department on this subject.”
In his May 31, 2022, letter to Hon, Harkness said, as a result of the committee’s findings, the book will be retained, but a note will be added in the catalog to indicate the book is for ages 10 and older.
“At CVL, our Children’s section includes materials through age 11,” Harkness wrote. “… Library professional publications highlighted the book as a modern approach to learning about puberty, sex, and gender for kids ages 10+. … Many parents look for titles on these subjects, and rely on the library to help them.”
On Aug. 15, 2023, Arianna Marealle of Columbus also objected to the content in “You Know, Sex” at the North Columbus Public Library.
“Explicit depictions of sexual acts, graphic sexual content, discussion of chest binding, erections, ejaculation, intercourse” are the reasons for her objection, Marealle wrote. “The theme is graphic sexual information targeted to a young audience. I recommend nothing similar in its place. Please withdraw this item entirely from the children’s section. My 4 and 8 year old children should never have to see it.”
In his Aug. 17, 2023, letter to Marealle, Harkness said the committee decided to move the book to the teen section of the library.
“We agree that this location is a better overall fit for this title,” Harkness wrote.
After citing reviews praising the book, Harkness wrote, “We work diligently to provide options for parents in their difficult role, guiding their children’s reading and library use as matches their family’s needs.”
Asked whether the way the committee handled the first and second complaints about “You Know, Sex” is an example of listening to local opinion, Harkness told the Ledger-Enquirer, “We took the feedback from the second customer on this title seriously.”
“The second time this was brought up, we checked against national catalogs again, noticing that more libraries had the book in their Teen departments, rather than in Children’s. . . . So, yes, we take feedback to heart when we get it,” Harkness said. “Sometimes we will agree, and sometimes not, but it has to be taken into our community’s context.”
When the committee rejects a resident’s request to remove an item, that resident may appeal the decision to the board. No appeals have been made in these four cases, Harkness said.
“The rate of these requests is about what you’d expect for a library and community our size,” he wrote. “We do try to have conversations with people who have issues with materials that they do not agree with, and most of the time they appreciate being informed about the purpose of a library and having a diverse collection. When they don’t agree, we are happy to give them the form and explain the process. These represent maybe half of the people who ask for the form.”
This story was originally published August 15, 2024 at 9:18 AM.
