The Baker County Library District hasn’t been a target of challenges seeking to remove books and other materials due to their content, but the district’s board is aware of an increase in such complaints nationally.

“The library board and I are concerned about the explosion of challenges to the right to read in libraries of recent years,” library director Perry Stokes said. “It is important that public libraries raise the bar for challenges in order to protect taxpayer resources while still providing accountability and due process to the community. Many libraries in the nation can incur costs in the thousands of dollars from responding to challenges.”

In response, the board during its April 9 meeting approved a new policy for patrons who challenge books or other materials in the library.

The policy is available online at bakerlib.org/.

The policy includes a new challenge form that’s more detailed, and longer, than the previous form last updated in November 2019.

The challenge procedure has changed, as well.

Under the new policy, patrons who have concerns about a book or material must first try to resolve their complaint with Stokes.

“That gives me a chance to discuss with the individual to see if we can come up with a remedy, to explain the library’s position, about our policy and legal obligations,” Stokes said.

Under the previous policy, challenges were reviewed by the library staff.

Under the new policy, patrons who can’t resolve their issue by meeting with Stokes can fill out a form, titled “Request for Review of Library Materials,” to make a formal challenge.

To do so, the patron must be an adult who lives in Baker County and has a library card with the district.

“Requests from groups or organizations will not be considered,” the form states.

Other changes in the new policy include:

• Each request is limited to a “single title,” and an individual can submit only one request per month.

• The district could impose a fee for people who submit more than three requests in 12 months.

• Any book or other material that is challenged but is kept at the library is exempt from another challenge for three years.

As for the challenge forms, the previous version was a single page and asked the patron to explain, in writing, their concern about the material.

The new challenge form, which covers four pages, includes a similarly worded question but also has other questions, including:

• What do you believe is the overall message intended by the creator(s) of this material?

• What alternate material representing the viewpoint of this material in a “better way” would you recommend the library include in its collection?

• What originally prompted you to look at and/or borrow the material from the library?

• Do you attest that you read/viewed/or listened to this material voluntarily and not due to coercion from library staff?

• Do you believe this material violates library policy or federal, state or local statute?

• Has reading, listening, or viewing this material directly caused you, or one of your family members, personal or financial harm? If YES, please describe. Be as specific as possible to show a clear connection between the alleged harm and the library material.

• If an adult library patron disagrees with your viewpoint, why should they accept the action(s) you are recommending?

One commonality between the new and the previous forms is that both note that challenge forms are public records and that the names of people who submit forms could be publicly disclosed.

Stokes said he sees the new policy as a “reinforcement of readers’ rights.”

“The very fact an item is controversial and the focus of public debate is a compelling reason for a library to make a book available,” he said. “This ensures citizens can access the content and make up their own mind about it. All books offered by the library are considered innocent until proven guilty.”

Book challenges

According to the American Library Association, in 2023, of the 10 most common requests to ban books, seven involved LGBTQ literature.

Overall, challenges increased 65% from the previous year, according to the ALA.

The situation has been different in Baker County, Stokes said.

He said complaints about materials have been brief, verbal discussions.

Stokes said that even in areas where challenges, and removal of books from libraries, are common, creative solutions have taken root.

“I love the tales of rebel students operating clandestine lending libraries from their school lockers and starting after school Banned Book Clubs,” he said. “The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) recently launched the Banned Book Program, granting free nationwide access to books restricted in schools or libraries.”

“The very fact an item is controversial and the focus of public debate is a compelling reason for a library to make a book available. This ensures citizens can access the content and make up their own mind about it. All books offered by the library are considered innocent until proven guilty.”

— Perry Stokes, Baker County Library director