This title provides helpful, practical information on the background and proliferation of book challenges. The authors clearly set out to condense and summarize a practical road map for library administrators to prepare and train their staff for the organized efforts of many conservative groups to remove books from libraries. The book opens with a summation of the current situation and how the number of challenges has dramatically risen in the last few years; the authors then discuss how to develop a strong policy and get support from library trustees and other potential stakeholders. While this book will be helpful to public libraries, school libraries are mentioned throughout as well, with lots of information and resources for librarians working in the educational environment. Bar graphs interspersed with visual statistics throughout the text make this a relatively quick read that will help any librarian make a case for why book challenges are so important to address proactively. The final chapter, which speaks about applying some of the practical guidelines to specific situations, is a true highlight. Library staff could be put through book challenge “drills” that effectively provide a way to roleplay as individuals coming into the library for the express purpose of trying to remove books that they don’t like.
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