CHALLENGE POLICY

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONE WANTS TO

BAN A BOOK?
BANNED BOOK
WEEK
SEPT 22-28,
2019
Artwork courtesy of the American Library
Association, www.ala.org
 THE FIRST
AMENDMENT

Protects the
right to read! This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
KNOW 1. Students have the right to read and seek information.
YOUR
RIGHTS 2. Parents have rights to decide what their children read.

3. Parents do NOT have authority over what other

children read.

4. We all have the right to express our opinion.

5. There is a process called the Challenge Policy when

someone wants to remove a book or resource from the
library
BE PREPARED
INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM STATEMENT:
“Intellectual freedom is the right of
library users to read, seek information,
and speak freely as guaranteed by the
First Amendment. Intellectual freedom
is one of the core values of the library
profession; it promotes access to This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY SA

information and guides the defense

against censorship.” (ALA, 2018)
Addendum to policy:
The school libraries of this district are guided by the principles set forth in
the Library Bill of Rights and its interpretative statements, including “Access
to Resources and Services in the School Library Program” and The Students’
Right to Read statement of the National Council of Teachers of English. See
Appendix (in this policy) for the Library Bill of Rights, “Access to Resources
and Services in the School Library Program,” and The Students’ Right to
Read statement (ALA, 2018).
 ANGLETON ISD

INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES EFA

Challenge Form
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS SELECTION AND ADOPTION (EXHIBIT)

EXHIBIT A
REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

Name Date
Address
City State Zip
Phone
Do you represent yourself? _______ an organization? _______ (If an organization, please
identify: )
Resource on which you are commenting:
____ Book ____ Magazine ____ Audio Recording
____ Textbook ____ Library Program ____ Newspaper
____ Video/DVD ____ Electronic information/network (please specify)
____ Display ____ Other
Title
Author/Producer
1. Have you reviewed the materials in their entirety? If not, please do so before complet-
ing and submitting this form.
2. To what in the material do you object? (Please be specific: cite pages, and the like)

3. What do you believe might be the result of using this material?

4. For what age group would you recommend this material?

5. In its place, what material of equal quality would you recommend that could be used to
teach similar subject matter?
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

6. What do you believe should be done with the material in question?

¨ Remove it from the curriculum.
¨ Do not allow my child to use this material.
¨ Use it as resource material or a choice selection.

Complainant signature Date

DATE ISSUED: 5/26/2011 1 of 1

UPDATE 90
EFA(EXHIBIT)-X
Instructions providing the method for reporting the initial complaint
The following procedures should be followed if, after verbally discussing the questioned
resource, no resolution is made.
• Complainant is issued packet of materials (including reconsideration
form).

• Complainant must return form in 10 business days.

• If a completed reconsideration form is not submitted within ten

business days, the matter is considered closed.

• Form goes to the reconsideration committee.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

• The work in question will remain on library shelves and in circulation

until a formal decision is made (ALA, 2018)
Status of the book or materials during the entire process
Book or materials will remain on library
shelves or in use until the committee has
made a decision.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed

under CC BY-SA
Who reviews the challenge?

The challenge committee will consist of

• The Librarian
• The Principal
• 1 Teacher
• Reading Specialist or Language Arts Teacher
• A Representative of the community
Librarian's role in the process
• The school librarian will secure copies of the resource for the
committee to review.

• The school librarian will provide the reviewing committee with

a short formal Intellectual Freedom training with a packet of
materials.

• The packet includes:

1. the library’s mission statement,
2. selection policy,
3. the Library Bill of Rights,
4. the completed reconsideration form,
5. reviews of the resource being reconsidered,
6. and a list of awards or honors, if any (ALA, 2018). Photo by Trexler Library CC by SA NC
 Decisions- who makes the decision and how?
• The committee after careful and
thorough review will decide to remove
the resource or continue to keep the
resource in circulation.

• If the complainant is not satisfied with

the decision, they can appeal to the
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY SA

district level.

• The process is repeated at the district

level if appealed by complainant.
Procedure for notifying the complainant
The committee's written decision shall
be presented to the complainant, the
superintendent of schools, and the
school library department director
within five school days after the
decision is made.
 References

ALA. (2018, January 12). Formal Reconsideration. Retrieved from

http://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/selectionpolicytoolkit/formalre
consideration
ALA. (2018, November 29). Challenge Support. Retrieved from
http://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport
Gomez, B. (2018, September 28). 5 Things You Can Do to Support Bannned
Books Week. Retrieved from https://bannedbooksweek.org/5-things-you-
can-do-to-support-the-right-to-read
Artwork courtesy of the American Library Association, www.ala.org