Colorado Bill Aims to Empower Communities in Book Selection for Libraries
In a nation divided on the question of who decides which books belong on the shelves of public libraries, Colorado finds itself at the center of the debate. Preliminary data from the American Library Association (ALA) shows a "record surge" in challenges to books in public libraries across the country, prompting concerns about the need for a formal process that gives local communities and taxpayers a say in shaping their libraries' collections.
The ALA reported a 20% increase in challenges to books between January and August 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, marking the highest number of challenges recorded since the organization began tracking the figure over two decades ago.
PRIME SPONSORS
Colorado State Sen. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County is one of the prime sponsors of SB24-049, which she called the "Freedom to Read" bill.
“We're trying to set up a process for people who want to challenge a book in a school or public library," Sen. Cutter said as reported by Denver7. “In the school portion of the bill, you have to have a child that goes to school, in that school or that district before you can challenge a book. The other thing we want to do is create some standards for that. So we can protect the protected classes, make sure that books aren't removed for discriminatory or partisan reasons all the way around.”
Cutter acknowledged that sometimes there are legitimate reasons for challenging a book, but she wants to ensure there are guidelines laid out in Colorado when it happens.
She emphasizes the importance of striking a balance between ensuring meaningful consideration of book challenges and avoiding excessive burdens on the process. The bill requires that individuals have a child attending a specific school or district before they can challenge a book in the school library. It also seeks to protect the rights of protected classes and promote transparency and accountability throughout the decision-making process.
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Bob Pasicznyuk, the executive director of Douglas County Libraries, recognizes the occasional need to address book challenges. However, he has highlighed that there is currently no state or federal law dictating how such challenges should be handled.
“We are moving through some challenges right now. And it's mainly around trying to thread the needle between making this process for requesting a ban to be considered, making it meaningful but also not too burdensome," Sen. Cutter said.