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Original poster

Library book complaint whistleblowing

93 replies

TheBookWyrm · 04/06/2022 15:26

Hello. Fairly regular lurker and NC.

Todayi went to my local library and DH pulled out an inappropriate gender ideology book from the kids section, which toddlers up can access.

The good news is, DH is clearly on it as was horrified by the sexualised content, assigned at birth stereotypes etc. It was clearly designed to lead children to the conclusion they are trans.
I work in education and know this book clearly violates the DfE guidance around sex and gender and would be fairly confident tackling it in a school setting, but I've no idea of the process of Rai it with the library or if I'll just get ignored or doxxed.
I feel hollow because i feel i ignored a safeguarding issue, the book is ßtill there, but have no idea how to navigate it without risking my career. I feel a coward but with my family being so young I cannot jeapodise our future.
Any way I can do this anamomously and it will get looked at seriously?

OP posts:
Original poster
TheBookWyrm · 04/06/2022 17:05

So the proper response to a safeguarding concern, any concern is: here is how to report that.
Safeguarding does not require your personal opinion on whether you think it's a risk or not. You recommend the correct channels to deal with it as @Mama1980 has communicated. Is there a way to do that anonymously, Mama? I'm not after banning anything. Or burning etc. I'm after a proper investigation on whether it is suitable for the toddlers area in the library. It's quite different to books like and Tango Makes Three because it has content that is not age appropriate, so right wing flailing is not relevant.
You may think you see pearl clutching but I'm seeing a complete misunderstanding of safeguarding.
I find it a bit disheartening the laxity outside education regarding safeguarding, as the proper channels aren't clear for a start along with an unwillingness to take responsibility.
But again, not really interested in safeguarding advice from those who aren't familiar with the process. After practical.advice. thought was clear.

OP posts:
TheCatterall · 04/06/2022 16:58

Borrow it. Or dont borrow it.
Complain . Or don’t complain.

honestly not seen so much pearl grabbing in at least 3 days on here.

i don’t agree with the bible or religious texts. Doesn’t mean I don’t feel they belong in libraries.

what next.. what books should we burn in the name of safeguarding after this one?

Mama1980 · 04/06/2022 16:52

I do some work for the library service and there is a well established and simple procedure for complains such as this.
Put your issues in writing and your argument will be formally addressed and responded to, usually with a reasoning behind this choice. I have never known a book be removed though for anything other than outright racism.
Censoring books is a dangerous thing.
Fwiw I happen to agree with your issues with this particular book but lots of parents ask for such titles, why is their business.

Cloudburst3 · 04/06/2022 16:42

It's advertised as for 3 years and up.
And they're pushing it at teachers.

Thelnebriati · 04/06/2022 16:38

Its not censorship to remove it if its not age appropriate.

EarringsandLipstick · 04/06/2022 16:36

TheBookWyrm · 04/06/2022 16:17

Censorship and safeguarding are not the same thing.

But it is censorship to demand books that don't align with one's personal ideology & beliefs are removed.

I think this is a dreadful book. But I wouldn't ask it to be removed.

If the library started holding storytelling sessions with this book being read aloud, I may feel differently. There is an active intent & promotion there.

Someone else may hold strong views on other issues and want books that don't accord with those views removed. How does a library decide which are merited?

Thelnebriati · 04/06/2022 16:35

Is it age appropriate material?

EarringsandLipstick · 04/06/2022 16:33

It is about the fact that libraries must provide for a range of readership and not just the books that you personally approve of.

Exactly.

EarringsandLipstick · 04/06/2022 16:32

if you understood anything about child development and misconceptions you can easily see how this book may start a child thinking they are trans for perfectly normal childhood.behaviour

Thanks for the patronising put down.

How do you know I don't know anything about child development?

EarringsandLipstick · 04/06/2022 16:31

it's actively promoting this book and ideology.

Of course it's not!

I work with libraries. Absolutely no question that having a book on the shelf means anything is being 'promoted'.

Jalisco · 04/06/2022 16:22

TheBookWyrm · 04/06/2022 16:00

It's written with pretty pictures to attract children, yes
That doesn't make it suitable for children.
I personally think anyone who uses hysteria or dramatic etc about safeguarding doesn't understand it. You are supposed to have easy ways to report concerns that may be nothing, that way you don't have to worry about if it's worth reporting or not. I find the lack of a system in a public library worrying. It also seems pretty unfair those in education have to vet books.on top of their actual jobs and the library doesn't.

Oh for goodness sake, you are being totally dramatic here. You don't think the book should be on the shelves. I disagree with you on that subject, but it is extremely easy to take the book to the librarian and question its shelving. Of course it is written to be attractive to children - because it is a children's book which is intended to be c0-read with a parent to explore issues that exist, whatever your personal stance on those issues are. Books about race, homosexuality and many other issues are written and illustrated to be attractive to children - and some parents object to those books because they don't agree with their content. Are we not to have ANY books about anything in case a parent doesn't like the content? This isn't about what anyone thinks of the subject matter or personal opinions on live issues in the world. It is about the fact that libraries must provide for a range of readership and not just the books that you personally approve of.

Perhaps there does need to be an adult conversation about how books are shelved - I am not saying that I agree or disagree with you, but I can see an argument for suggesting that some content might be shelved differently. But I am struggling to see how that could work. I see that you have a specific viewpoint on this issue, and again, it isn't relevant whether I agree with you or now. But when the parents of young Jimmy, who happen to be members Patriotic Alternative object to those toddlers books about blended families, gay parents, or mixed race households, are we to shelve those books elsewhere? By the time we are finished, there are no books left on the shelves. And we have very uncomfortably aligned ourselves with people who ban and burn books...

Original poster
TheBookWyrm · 04/06/2022 16:17

Censorship and safeguarding are not the same thing.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheBookWyrm · 04/06/2022 16:16

We censor for children all the time. Censorship for children is a normal part of growing up.
We don't teach column addition in year r. They're not cognitively ready for it. Not censorship. Age appropriate.
We don't teach about the mechanics of sex until late KS2. Not censorship. Waiting until child can process it.

So when we know that children don't have an idea that sex is fixed until four, why is this censorship to not have it on the toddler shelf?
Again,.if it were in another section, it wouldn't be the same issue.

OP posts:
Thelnebriati · 04/06/2022 16:15

Sadly safeguarding is being dismantled everywhere. It took us so long to get it.

cassandre · 04/06/2022 16:15

If you don't like the book, OP, then don't check it out for your child. Problem solved

cassandre · 04/06/2022 16:13

Censorship is also enjoying a renaissance in Texas and Alabama and other right-wing US states

cassandre · 04/06/2022 16:12

Ugh, censorship

Original poster
TheBookWyrm · 04/06/2022 16:11

Well, with children, schools have a duty of care. A library should have one too, it's not a bookshop, it's actively promoting this book and ideology.

And yes, if you understood anything about child development and misconceptions you can easily see how this book may start a child thinking they are trans for perfectly normal childhood.behaviour.

It's not an issue of it being available, it's not book burning, it's about buying and displaying age appropriate content.

OP posts:
EarringsandLipstick · 04/06/2022 16:05

@TheBookWyrm

I'm in agreement with your views on the content.

Not what should happen with it.

It's not just written with 'pretty pictures to attract children'. It has been through a publishing process and is designed for children to read.

No child reading that book is going to suddenly have a crisis about 'gender identity'. Their parent or guardian will also be aware they have it.

There is no way to start censoring books on ideological grounds that won't lead to wider issues.

Schools have a different role than libraries. You can read (essentially) what you want in a library.

Overthewine · 04/06/2022 16:02

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Original poster
TheBookWyrm · 04/06/2022 16:00

It's written with pretty pictures to attract children, yes
That doesn't make it suitable for children.
I personally think anyone who uses hysteria or dramatic etc about safeguarding doesn't understand it. You are supposed to have easy ways to report concerns that may be nothing, that way you don't have to worry about if it's worth reporting or not. I find the lack of a system in a public library worrying. It also seems pretty unfair those in education have to vet books.on top of their actual jobs and the library doesn't.

OP posts:
EarringsandLipstick · 04/06/2022 15:54

could see countless ways it would not be allowed on a school shelf.

It's not a school shelf.

It's a library & as long as the book is intended for children, which it is, it can be there.

EarringsandLipstick · 04/06/2022 15:53

It would be exactly the same if I spotted a book of war crimes or fifty shades in the toddler section, except I'd have no fear of raising it in those cases.

They are not parallel examples. Neither is written for children. This book is. You may disagree with the content but it is a book for children.

Original poster
TheBookWyrm · 04/06/2022 15:53

However, I think it is ok to have books that don't accord with my ideology in a library.

It's not about it being banned. It's about it being inappropriate for the children's section. Two adults trained in the education sector and safeguarding could see countless ways it would not be allowed on a school shelf.

Fine for it to be put in another section. Bottom line is we do censor for children and rightfully so.

OP posts:
spongedog · 04/06/2022 15:52

Just complain to the Head of the county Library service setting out your reasons. Reference legislation, protected charateristics, DfE guidance, recent court cases etc. Ask why they are not complying with that. Imply (carefully) about personal liability and consequences.

But please less of the "We both work in careers where we have to be neutral so he can't risk it either". Very few of us in the UK work for organisations where you cant make a sensible well-founded report. Yes you might end speaking to people who perhaps dont have the same level of starting knowledge as you, you might speak to someone who totally disagrees etc. There is too much of this and it is really about swerving a slightly tricky conversation. Dont leave it for others - because it wont happen and the situation continues.