bigger picture when challenges appear to be originating from small groups?
Jamie – I think this is really important. Track how many are complaining and who. Sometimes that helps identify the organi- sations that are actually pushing it. It might be just a few people, but you need two responses. The first directly answers and usually refutes the complaints. The second is the ‘better narrative’. The story isn’t that children are madly seeking adult content; rather, it’s that they are learning early literacy, growing in empathy and intelligence, building knowledge, community, and resilience.
Viv – One of the key learning points for me listening to your webinar and reading your book is that challenges are coming from the left and the right of politics, although the majority at the moment are coming from the right, what has surprised you most during your time defending the freedom to read?
Jamie – That’s right, challenges do come from the extremes of the political spectrum, where they seem to agree that the job of the library is the dissemination of propaganda, and they don’t have a problem with that. As long as it’s just their own propaganda. But it is unquestionably the case in the US that the right is by far the biggest actor. What surprised me most were challenges from previously marginalised populations to go back and remove books now seen as bigoted, even though they may have accurately reflected the times in which they were written. Shouldn’t they, instead, focus on getting more new books into the collection?
Viv – In the UK we don’t tend to have the same library boards or public meetings as you do in the US to air censorship issues, most external challenges would probably come in email format and we’d respond in written format. Do you think holding pub- lic meetings has an upside? Are we at a disadvantage in the UK by not having that space for discussion?
Jamie – Really good question. Responding to something in writing is something most librarians know how to do well. I think my discovery was that we were not good at managing public comment because, like you, we never had to be until we did. The point is probably to respond to the challenges as they are presented. If, all of a sudden, the tactic of reading naughty
June-July 2026
bits in public meetings starts to happen, be prepared to do what I suggested: have your supporters show up, have clear rules about how to manage the speakers. It’s a two-edged sword: on the one hand, the public airing of pretend grievances gives them air- time; on the other, you have the chance to make a better case and demonstrate that the majority is opposed to censorship.
Viv – Regarding self-censorship, have you any advice on how we can recognise it in ourselves?
Jamie – It makes you mad! If you feel yourself panting and cursing when you read the review or request for purchase, that emotional response means you really need to figure out if you’re just imposing your private values on the public. Then examine your reasons for not wanting to add it – and see if that reason is used for things you agree with, too.
Viv – In your book you describe anti-intellectualism and in the webinar you mentioned us being at a fork in the road: between ignorance or increased knowledge and the role of librarians as being crucial, cornerstones of access to information. What is the most important thing we need to do to work as one professional body in this area across all of the kinds of institutions we work in?
Jamie – Talk to each other. I would think the whole point of CILIP is to share emerging trends and responses. Right now, the rise of misinformation and the decline of meaningful conver- sation strike at the heart of democracy. I think we need to own that value of intellectual freedom, of the value of evidence, of the importance of public debate. Try stuff then let each other know what worked and what didn’t.
Viv – Finally, have you any tips on how to retain our energy and enthusiasm whilst dealing with challenges and also in supporting colleagues facing them?
Jamie – It comes down to have fun. Many of the challenges are transparently absurd. Objectively, they’re pretty funny. (We have to protect our children from reading about gay penguins?) I don’t mean to mock our patrons in public. But as I said, is our problem really that children are reading too much?
If you missed the webinar it’s still available to watch at: www.
cilip.org.uk/MembersFest26_Recordings IP
INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL 47
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