Challenging Inappropriate Books: The Struggle Against Criticism

What steps should you take if your child arrives home with a library book that seems unsuitable for their age? Typically, you would approach the school for clarification. Yet, what happens when you face mockery instead of understanding?

For many years, the notion of “trust the experts” has been the refrain when parents or educators express concerns over specific library books. Librarians, backed by the American Library Association (ALA), assure that every book accessible to children has undergone thorough evaluation via expert reviews. Challenging their judgment often leads to accusations of censorship rather than being treated as a concerned parent.

Both of us, as seasoned educators, have encountered this very situation. We raised issues about certain books and faced backlash. However, recent developments undermine the ALA’s narrative.

Questioning the Reliability of Book Reviews

Recently, librarians and their organizations have admitted the flaws in relying solely on professional reviews. A study by one of the ALA’s divisions revealed a growing distrust among librarians towards reviews they once defended. A librarian even confessed that reviews alone may not suffice.

These reviews, from sources like Kirkus and School Library Journal, focus on themes and genres, often reflecting the reviewer’s personal bias. The ALA dismisses rating systems that address child-safety concerns such as sexual content, violence, and language. Thus, understanding a book’s content requires reading it firsthand, a practice parents have long engaged in despite facing severe criticism.

The Credibility Dilemma

If “trust the experts” truly valued expertise, a qualified expert’s concerns would outweigh those from a typical parent. We found the reverse to be true. One educator was dismissed because she lacked library media specialist certification. After obtaining it, nothing changed. She conducted a professional semantic analysis of a challenged text, which failed by its own linguistic metrics. Despite her findings, authorities ignored her analysis, treating her as an adversary.

The personal conflict with the school district became public, and she endured intense retaliation. Her credentials became a threat to educational bureaucrats who dismissed her initially as “just a parent.”

Another educator, upon reviewing an assigned novel, found graphic content. This discovery led her to investigate further, uncovering numerous explicit titles in the library catalog. Prior to adopting stricter policies, backlash included national campaigns, thousands of emails demanding her dismissal, lawsuits, and threats. Despite a “highly effective” rating and clearance from an internal probe, her experience intensified after her findings prompted the removal of inappropriate titles.

The American Library Association’s Tactics

At the core, the ALA handbook employs tactics to silence dissent. Initially, critics are told they lack proper credentials. Obtaining credentials changes nothing, as observed in our cases. Even when offering unmatched expertise, it gets dismissed, and the expert faces severe repercussions.

Despite our extensive qualifications, our institutions dismissed our well-founded concerns. Our expertise turned us into targets instead of lending credibility. If such treatment awaits credentialed experts, what chance does the average parent have?

The phrase “trust the experts” was never centered on genuine expertise. It demanded alignment with a predetermined conclusion, making dissent appear intellectually deficient. The reality is far harsher: Submit to the ALA, or face reputational and career risks. This underlying threat is losing its potency. The facade has fallen apart, and the illusion no longer holds.

Both authors hold advanced degrees and certifications, with extensive teaching experience. Their insights expose significant issues within the library system and advocate for parental involvement.