School librarians asked to remove books, including LGBTQ+ titles

More than half of UK school librarians have been asked to remove certain books from circulation, a new survey suggests – with the majority of those requests coming from parents.

The Index on Censorship asked 53 librarians about their experiences of books being challenged. Twenty-eight (53%) said they had been asked to remove books and, of these, 56% said they had acted on the request.

According to the campaign organisation, many books called into question had LGBTQ+ themes, including This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson, Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love and the alphabet book ABC Pride by Louie Stowell.

Index on Censorship said other books, including Manga comic books, were removed because of the perceived sexualisation of characters and explicit or violent content.

Books were also challenged over the use of homophobic language, swearing and self-harm discussions.

The organisation notes that in the US, where book censorship is a subject of frequent debate, the American Library Association records requests for bans of specific titles. Equivalent data is not collected in the UK. 

Alison Tarrant, Chief Executive of the UK School Library Association, said: “I doubt this is a new phenomenon. And it’s probably been going on for as long as school libraries have existed. 

“I wonder whether it’s a symptom of the more polarised society that we’re living in now, and that’s why things have got stronger.”

Concern over censorship of LGBTQ+ books for young people was brought to the fore last year after it emerged that the V&A Director Tristram Hunt decided to remove two illustrated books on queer identities, and a trans rights poster, from the Young V&A. The move prompted a backlash from the museum's union members, as well as artists and members of the public.