Lorain County libraries brace for book-banning battles

Asking questions about books isn't a problem. Trying to get them pulled from shelves — well, that's another story, said Cheryl Grizzell, chief operating officer of the Lorain Public Library System. A nonfiction book titled "Let's Talk About It: The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships and Being Human" has attracted attention in the last couple of weeks at the North Ridgeville Branch Library. The graphic novel is aimed at teens, and answers questions about puberty they might not feel comfortable posing to parents, Grizzell said. At least one person has asked for and been given a form to challenge its place on the shelves, but that form had not been returned as of Friday. "What people can be offended by is so subjective, and someone else might want that information," Grizzell said. "We have to keep it there for everybody." Attempts to ban books at public and school libraries have been on the rise across the nation in the past year and a half. The American Library Association attributed the trend to conservative activism, and said titles with LGBTQ+ themes and sexual content are challenged the most. Earlier this month, the ALA put out a call to action, asking for people to show up at school and library board meetings to oppose censorship. The organization said it supports intellectual freedom and "a parent's right to restrict reading materials for their own child but not for all." The ALA is tracking news reports of book-banning efforts far and wide, including in Florida, New Hampshire, Texas and Wyoming. Staff at a Montana library resigned last month after finding several books in a return box, blasted by gunfire. A GOP congressional candidate in Virginia tried to criminalize libraries distributing LGBTQ+ books to minors. In the same state, a chapter of the right-wing activist group Moms for Liberty has been trying to get 14 books — a number of award-winners among them — pulled from a school library, saying they have sexually explicit themes. Closer to home, the Ashland Public Library has endured a monthslong fight after a request to remove three books from the juvenile nonfiction section. In a Sept. 9 news release, the library board and director said they would not move "Puberty Is Gross, But Also Really Awesome," "Own Your Period" and "Making a Baby." The Ashland library "affirms the individual rights of patrons to free and open access to library materials and services and its role as a protector of intellectual freedom in a free society," the release said. Local challenges are rare — so far Avon Lake Public Library Director William Rutger used to work at the Ashland Public Library. He's been tracking developments there, and said conservative Christianity is behind the push to remove books. "Thankfully, we have not had a problem," he said. At least not recently. The release of "The Last Temptation of Christ" and "Fifty Shades of Grey" both brought loud protests from a small minority of residents, Rutger said. "There is always something that someone might take issue with," he said. "But libraries are open to the entire community, and we serve our entire community, which means we have something for everyone." Directors of every library system in Lorain County told The Chronicle that challenges are rare, but they're expected to become less so. They are all preparing to fight to keep diverse titles on the shelves. "I think people have opinions, and opinions should be shared and heard. But because the book is on the shelf doesn't mean it has to be taken out," said Jennifer Black, director of marketing and public relations for the Lorain Public Library System. Jennifer Winkler, manager of the North Ridgeville branch, said staff always consider feedback, but they won't bow to pressure. "We don't purchase these in a vacuum. We're trained professionals," she said. Addressing complaints Libraries across the county have policies in place for taking and reviewing complaints. The process is used once or twice a year at the Grafton-Midview Public Library, Director Adele Infante said. The most common challenge is to unrated movies, she said. Sometimes parents believe that means they're appropriate for all audiences, and that's just not the case. Infante said there are periodic comments about depictions of sexuality in books, but lately she's not had any official challenges. "We are finding, though, that some books are missing," she said. A number of fiction titles that could be considered controversial by some have mysteriously wandered away from the stacks, which she suggested was "somebody's way of saying they don't like that book." Darren McDonough, director of the Oberlin Public Library, said he's also had materials stolen, but it's been many years since a challenge was brought forward at his facility. R-rated DVDs showing male nudity have sometimes raised eyebrows, but female nudity in the library's collection is never questioned, he said. From time to time there will be a suggestion that a young adult graphic novel should be moved to the adult section. In one case, McDonough's staff agreed and made the change. About 15 years ago, a mother checked out the audiobook version of "The Wind in the Willows" and was upset the word "ass" was used to describe an animal, said Janet Hollingsworth, director of the Herrick Memorial Library in Wellington. Staff didn't agree then to pull it from circulation. Hollingsworth said she decided to move the children's classic to the teen section, since it had a higher reading level anyway. She believes a rush of book challenges is inevitable, given the political climate in the United States: "It's a sign of the times," and unlikely to fade away, she said. "It's going to be a fight if they try to challenge. I believe everything should be for everybody," Hollingsworth said. The Herrick Memorial Library has added titles in its LGBTQ+ collection, she said. It's a reflection of changing society — there are a lot of kids in southern Lorain County who belong to the demographic and deserve to have materials about it, she said. Hollingsworth said she fully expects friction over the titles, and is prepared. She's been teaching staff how to professionally take complaints. While she hasn't received a challenge during her short tenure as director of the Elyria Public Library System, Jennifer Starkey said she also expects LGBTQ+ materials to draw fire, along with titles about changing bodies, health and sex. She is concerned that "toxic polarization" is making people unwilling to accept there are points of view that differ from their own. Many Americans can no longer talk or learn about their differences constructively, she said. Some people are open-minded, though. Starkey said the Shelf Awareness book group in Elyria specifically picks books that have been the target of bans, and explores why the content was considered objectionable. Library heads convene every other month to discuss issues and compare notes. Amherst Public Library Director Don Dovala said the book-banning movement was the hot topic this month. "I think it's going to cool off," he said. "I don't think there's enough people who believe in it for it to get any traction." Banned Books Week Banned Books Week will be observed across the nation today through Saturday. The theme this year: "Books unite us, censorship divides us." The American Library Association-sponsored event is held every year. Libraries use it to champion titles that historically have been placed in the crosshairs, from George Orwell's classic dystopian warning "1984" to "The Catcher in the Rye," J.D. Salinger's thesis on angst, alienation and loss of innocence. The ALA tracked 729 challenges to materials in public, school and university libraries last year — 1,597 books in all. The most-challenged books were "Gender Queer" by Maia Kobabe, "Lawn Boy" by Jonathan Evison and "All Boys Aren't Blue" by George M. Johnson. All three were challenged because of LGBTQ+ themes and sexually explicit content. Parents are the most likely parties to raise objections. Overwhelmingly — 82 percent of the time — challenges are aimed at materials that include references to or depictions of sex. Others are deemed "obscene," include profanity, are allegedly "woke," explore racial injustices or support the LGBTQ+ community, according to the ALA. "This is a dangerous time for readers and the public servants who provide access to reading materials," said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom. "Readers, particularly students, are losing access to critical information, and librarians and teachers are under attack for doing their jobs." Infante said librarians "are here to provide it all," and will always champion First Amendment rights. "Everybody has that right, and I wouldn't want someone to tell my child what they should or couldn't read," she said. "I should be able to make that decision as a mother or a parent." Jason Hawk can be reached at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.