In the summer of 2023, a controversial book—Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe—was removed from the shelves of the small Connecticut library where I worked as a part-time paraprofessional.
The removal was done in transgression of the library board’s book reconsideration policy. The book’s catalog record also vanished. Local media outlets reported that the book was removed by our then-director who, a few weeks into the role, was called into our town first selectman’s office along with the head of the library board and told to remove the book.
Our small staff was upset and bewildered. For me, working in libraries has been a meaningful part of my life. I’ve been brought to tears by adults gratefully describing having just learned to read, and it is pure magic handing a child their first library card. But as the granddaughter of Europeans who fled to the US to escape fascism just before World War II, I found that the fight against this injustice in our library became very personal.
In contacting the American Library Association (ALA) and Connecticut Library Association (CLA) for guidance and resources, I learned that our situation was unfortunately commonplace.
Word circulated about the book’s removal. Library board meetings were crowded with patrons who claimed the book was pornographic—although only a court of law can make that determination—and residents questioned why library policy had not been followed.
The library’s Friends group proudly donated a new copy of the book, but library board members’ discussion centered on where it should be located. Shortly after one suggested state police should be consulted on whether the book belonged on the shelves at all, I resigned. Fortunately, the book has since been returned. However, it is now located in the adult section rather than in its original place in the young adult section.
I offer the following considerations to other small libraries, particularly those with mostly part-time or nonlibrarian staffers, facing similar challenges:
Educate yourself. Create a network of informed community members that will foster mutual support. I organized several virtual meetings with CLA to answer residents’ questions and discuss objectives. ALA and CLA offered connections to other libraries that experienced similar challenges and could offer support and provide examples of landmark court cases and anticensorship tactics that had been successful elsewhere. Study censorship laws, and inform colleagues, patrons, Friends organizations, and community leaders—even the library board.
Be proactive with journalists. This situation led to a media circus, complete with misinformation. Provide facts before they can be distorted by politically motivated narratives. We didn’t do this, and retraction requests were unsuccessful. Offer contacts, such as leaders in your state library association, who can serve as subject matter experts about library issues.
Through this controversy, I learned the power of bringing injustice to light.
Be prepared for collateral damage. Several library staffers resigned or faced scrutiny from the board. The director who removed the book has since resigned as well. This has also happened at other institutions fighting against book bans.
Remain neutral. Whatever your politics or viewpoints, treat everyone with respect. Although staffers had varying opinions about the book, we had strong professional appreciation for one another and library policy. One patron made remarks to me about the book that I felt were inflammatory, but I reminded myself that he was entitled to his opinions. There were enough problems, I realized, without needless interpersonal disputes.
Through this controversy, I learned the power of bringing injustice to light. The most moving thing of all was seeing people—of all political beliefs—standing together to defend intellectual freedom.
In my new role at a nearby library, my biggest problem these days is managing crowded bookshelves. But I do so with the profound realization that my colleagues and I support not only our patrons but also the ideals of democracy itself.
