"I always wanted to get banned. But when the Arizona thing happened [when Tucson eliminated their Mexican- American Studies course], and I realized it was my target audience that wouldn't be able to read my books, I was devastated. The symbolism was inescapable: a book populated by Mexican-American characters was literally taken out of the hands of Mexican-American students and put in boxes in the basement."
Matt de la Pena, author of Mexican Whiteboy
Material challenges will continue to surface, especially in the current social climate. (The biggest themes currently receiving backlash contain racial and LGBTQIA + content.) It is important to remember that most requests for reconsideration are not meant to be malicious. With this in mind, remember to treat every concerned patron with respect and a calm attitude, go through the appropriate channels, and let the due process of library policies play out their intended functions.
For more information about Collection Development, view ALA's Tools, Publications, and Resources.
Other resources include:
Handling Challenges | Banned Books Week
Why Do You Need a Collection Development Plan? | Knowledge Quest
Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Resources | Maryland State Library
Challenged Materials Policy | Pikes Public Library District
Many of these resources and programs are funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.