June 2023
From the Director's Desk
On March 22, 2023, The American Library Association (ALA) released data that showed there had been 1,269 demands to censor library books in 2022. That is the highest number of recorded demands for removal since ALA began compiling data about censorship over 20 years ago.
2,571 unique titles were targeted, a 38% increase from the 1,858 unique titles targeted in 2021. Perhaps not surprisingly, of those titles, the vast majority were written by or about people of color and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Common belief is that these challenges only happen in school libraries and indeed, 58% of them do, but 41% of book challenges target materials in public libraries. In 2022 there were 45 challenges on 30 books in Massachusetts. Since many libraries don’t report challenges, the numbers are likely higher.
Unfortunately, in today’s climate, we aren’t preparing for if we receive a challenge but when. In compliance with Mass General Law, Part I, Title XII, Ch 78, Sec 33 requiring the Board of Trustees of a free public library to establish a written policy for the selection of library materials in accordance with standards set forth by the American Library Association, the Hopkinton Public Library has a Board approved Collection Development Policy as well as a Reconsideration of Library Materials Policy.
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