Twenty-four percent of school librarians have experienced harassment during the last year related to books or displays in their library. That’s according to a recent SLJ survey, which found the rate even higher among high school librarians, 30 percent of whom report being harassed.

Those perpetrating the intimidation are most frequently parents, followed by organized groups, reports the Controversial Book survey fielded in May 2023 and garnering 729 respondents.

Open-end comments related to incidents involving books/displays in the library ranged in nature and severity.

Survey respondents told us:

• “Nothing scary, just rude comments. Someone called me a "peddler of pornography." He doesn't even know me or my library.”
  —a school librarian, IN
• “I received threats as well, including one anonymous caller who threatened my wife by name.”
  —a school librarian, WA
• “Trolls on Twitter based on school board comments I made in defense of intellectual freedom and representation.
  —a school librarian, NC
• “It's just been one specific student.”
  —a school librarian, NJ
• “The local Facebook page has really been vocal towards the books within my collection. I have not personally been identified in posts, but the comments have been very hateful at times.”
  —a school librarian, IN

To download the complete survey results, see our coverage:
Book Challenges Are Having a Chilling Effect on School Librarians Nationwide | SLJ Survey

Our research include comparisons with data gathered from SLJ’s 2022 controversial books survey. However, this is the first time we have posed a question regarding personal harassment.

METHODOLOGY

An email inviting recipients to take a survey about selecting books with potentially controversial subject matter was sent to a random sample of U.S. school librarians on May 1, 2023. Responses were anonymous. The survey closed on May 17 with 729 U.S. school libraries responding.