Librarians in UK Increasingly Asked To Remove Books

An anonymous reader shares a report: Requests to remove books from library shelves are on the rise in the UK, as the influence of pressure groups behind book bans in the US crosses the Atlantic, according to those working in the sector. Although 'the situation here is nowhere [near] as bad, censorship does happen and there are some deeply worrying examples of library professionals losing their jobs and being trolled online for standing up for intellectual freedom on behalf of their users,' said Louis Coiffait-Gunn, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (Cilip).

Ed Jewell, president of Libraries Connected, an independent charity that represents public libraries, said: 'Anecdotal evidence from our members suggests that requests to remove books are increasing.' The School Library Association (SLA) said this year has seen an 'increase in member queries about censorship.' Most of the UK challenges appear to come from individuals or small groups, unlike in the US, where 72% of demands to censor books last year were brought forward by organised groups, according to the American Library Association earlier this week.

However, evidence suggests that the work of US action groups is reaching UK libraries too. Alison Hicks, an associate professor in library and information studies at UCL, interviewed 10 UK-based school librarians who had experienced book challenges. One 'spoke of finding propaganda from one of these groups left on her desk,' while another 'was directly targeted by one of these groups.' Respondents 'also spoke of being trolled by US pressure groups on social media, for example when responding to free book giveaways.'

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