H. Challenges to Library Books Jump

as ‘Harry Potter’ Tops List Again

After a decrease in 2001, challenges reported to the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) rose markedly. In 2002, OIF recorded 515 challenges to library materials in school and public libraries, up from 448 the previous year. The OIF numbers are based on voluntary reports primarily from librarians and teachers. The number of challenges not reported may be four or five times higher, OIF estimates.

According to OIF, a book challenge is a formal, written complaint requesting that a library remove materials from its collection. In schools and school libraries, challenges generally involve books. In public libraries, however, most challenges revolve around materials available to minors. Most challenges prove unsuccessful and books are seldom banned.

Each year, OIF releases a “Top 10” list of challenged books. These lists, along with the 100 most frequently challenged books since 1990, can be found on the OIF Web site, http://www.ala.org/bbooks/top100bannedbooks.html. The most frequently challenged books of 2002 were:

1. “Harry Potter” series, by J.K. Rowling, for its focus on wizardry and magic.

2. “Alice” series, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, for being sexually explicit, using offensive language, and being unsuited to age group.

3. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier (the “Most Challenged” book of 1998), for using offensive language and being unsuited to age group.

4. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou, for sexual content, racism, offensive language, violence, and being unsuited to age group.

5. Taming the Star Runner, by S.E. Hinton, for offensive language.

6. “Captain Underpants” series, by Dav Pilkey, for insensitivity, being unsuited to age group, and encouraging children to disobey authority.

7. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, for racism, insensitivity, and offensive language.

8. Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson, for offensive language, sexual content, and promoting the occult/Satanism.

9. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor, for insensitivity, racism, and offensive language.

10. Julie of the Wolves, by Julie Craighead George, for sexual content, offensive language, violence, and being unsuited to age group.

As this list shows, books are frequently challenged for sexual content. Other books frequently challenged on these grounds are Forever by Judy Blume; It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris; and The Color Purple by Alice Walker.

Offensive language is the second most common objection. Titles frequently challenged for language include Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anayo; Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut; My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier; James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl; and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

Frequent challenges also involve racism, sexism, and other aspects of “cultural sensitivity” (e.g., Of Mice and Men). Another common complaint, the promotion of Satanism and the occult, is reflected in frequent challenges to the popular “Harry Potter” series.

Dealing With Challenges

OIF notes that libraries with established policies and procedures fare best when confronted with a challenge. These procedures establish a framework for registering a complaint, provide for a hearing, and protect the principles of freedom of information, a patron’s right to access materials, and the professional responsibility and integrity of the library staff. Review policies are designed to prevent someone from subjectively blocking all library users from access to materials simply because he or she does not like them.

Library users also can have a significant impact on the outcome of challenges to library materials. OIF encourages library patrons to speak out in support of challenged materials and intellectual freedom, thereby improving the chances of preserving access to information.

--Judith F. Krug and Beverley Becker