By Serena Mohammed (she/her), teacher and BCTLA Executive Committee member, Richmond
When people hear about book challenges and book bans, they often think of the United States where recent videos circulating on social media show empty shelves in classrooms and libraries. Even though book challenges in BC and other parts of Canada do not result in the removal of books from schools or public libraries as often as they do in some parts of the US, book challenges are becoming more prevalent in Canada, and the people that are challenging books are becoming more organized.
Book challenges are when one or more individuals or groups seek to have books either removed from the school learning library commons (LLC) or have access to the book be limited to certain audiences. For example, they may request a book at an elementary library be moved to a secondary library, or that a book only be available at public libraries and not school LLCs.
Book challenges (also referred to as library material reconsideration requests) are some of the most notable issues that have been affecting teacher-librarians and public librarians in recent years. The BC Teacher Librarians’ Association (BCTLA) invited teacher-librarians from all over BC to participate in a working and learning conditions survey during the 2023–24 school year. About 16% of respondents said they received a request for reconsideration of LLC material over the past year.
The Centre for Free Expression (CFE) has a database where teacher-librarians, teachers, public librarians, and individuals or groups of the general public can report incidences of book challenges. This database includes items that have been challenged, a record of the review undertaken by the library, and the library’s response. There have been over 751 cases of book challenges reported in Canada. The actual number of cases is likely higher than what is shown on the CFE website because not every case is reported.
Book challenges and book bans are not only barriers to equity, diversity, and inclusion, but also barriers to freedom to read, freedom of information, and human rights.
Students need books that represent their identities and experiences. This not only motivates them to read and write, but also helps students develop a positive self-image and provides validation and confirmation. Students also need books that represent people with experiences different than their own. This contributes to developing empathy, new world views, and new interests.
Book challenges and book bans are not only barriers to equity, diversity, and inclusion, but also barriers to freedom to read, freedom of information, and human rights.
Anti-SOGI groups are some of the most organized when it comes to challenging books. Canadian-based anti-SOGI groups have created lists of SOGI-inclusive books, along with template letters, templates for conversations, and other information related to challenging these SOGI-inclusive books. Books by Indigenous authors, Black authors, or authors who identify as people of colour have also been challenged.
In 2022, the BCTLA invited David A. Robertson, an Indigenous author who has experience with having his book challenged, to speak at our annual conference. He encouraged all teachers to monitor news and information about books that are being challenged in Canada, as it is becoming a more serious issue. During the same conference Ivan Coyote, who is a well-known author and 2SLGBTQIA+ advocate, talked about the important roles that teachers, schools, teacher-librarians, and school LLCs play in advancing equity, inclusion, and safety for all students. Both authors encouraged teachers to continue to advocate to have voices of equity-seeking groups equitably represented in school LLCs and in classrooms, and to continue to advocate for freedom to read, freedom of information, and equitable representation of diverse voices in schools.
When teachers or teacher-librarians receive a complaint about a book, it is important to not remove the book without following the district’s book challenge procedures. Most school districts in BC have a formal policy in place to deal with book challenges.
The CFE database notes that most books are retained in libraries following a challenge or complaint; formal policies can be an important tool in ensuring books are not removed from libraries.
When books are removed due to complaints by individuals or groups, it demonstrates to students that the voices of some groups do not matter as much as the voices of other groups. It also affects students’ access to information and right to choose what they would like to read. Just because one family does not want their child(ren) reading certain books, does not mean that families and students who do want to read those books should not be able to access the books.
A good first step for teachers who experience a book complaint is to contact the teacher-librarian at your school, your local teacher-librarian association, or your local union to ask them about your district’s book-selection and book-challenge policies for library books and classroom books.
In my district, the Richmond School District, the LLC selection policy requires LLCs to maintain a collection that reflects awareness and perspectives according to the BC Human Rights Code. The request for reconsideration of library materials requires the person submitting the request to show how the book does not meet the selection policy. As a result of having a selection and challenge policy that protects the BC Human Rights Code, teacher-librarians and teachers can feel safe and supported when selecting and keeping books that reflect different viewpoints and experiences.
BCTF members can advocate in their districts for stronger book-challenge and selection policies that not only support the inclusion of equity-seeking and traditionally marginalized voices, but also actually require that the identities protected under the BC Human Rights Code be equitably represented in LLC collections and classroom materials.
Another action BCTF members can take is to have discussions with students about book censorship and freedom to read, and to provide information to caregivers about why it is important to have a diverse selection of books.
For more information and resources related to book challenges, please visit the BCTLA website at bctla.ca/member-services/book-challenges.
Freedom to read events
Every year many teachers and teacher-librarians observe Freedom to Read week in February. Next year this event will be scheduled from February 23 to March 1, 2025. This is a special week to learn and discuss issues related to freedom of expression, intellectual freedom, and censorship. Please visit their website for more information about the event: www.freedomtoread.ca
Many teachers and teacher-librarians also observe Banned Books week in the fall; it is from September 22 to 28, 2024. More information is available at www.bannedbooksweek.org.