Librarians fear for free speech after activists push to censor books

LIBRARIES are coming under increasing pressure to stifle free speech, it has emerged, as a quarter of staff have been told to censor collections.

Academic and public libraries across the UK are feeling pressure to not stock books or remove them from shelves, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) has warned, as “outrage is used as a tool” by activists seeking to shut down debate.

The trade body for librarians has warned that a quarter have been asked to censor collections, with books related to the transgender debate a particular cause of controversy.

The CILIP survey has revealed that 26 per cent of library staff have been urged to censor material, while 82 per cent are concerned the intellectual freedom of libraries will be curbed by ideological rows.

Nick Poole, the chief executive of CILIP, said: “The main pressure is around LGBTQ+ material, particularly related to the trans debate.

“What is happening on social media is starting to spill over into libraries. This is, sadly, a bit of an import from the US. People want to censor material, rather than engage with it and think about it… Anything can become controversial these days, and one group or another will want to shut it down. Outrage is used as a tool, and one side seeks to silence the other, rather than having a debate.”

Mr Poole has said that censorship in libraries takes the form of librarians not stocking potentially controversial titles out of fear they will meet with opposition and “in extremis, by taking books down from shelves”.

Research indicates that the issue is affecting all types of libraries in the UK, including those at universities, where student activism has recently led to debate around the accessibility of certain books and authors, but also in libraries serving local communities.

A drag queen story-hour event at a library in St Ives was protested against by campaigners concerned that the event “sexualised” children.

CILIP will be aiming to help librarians deal with criticism and protests, in order to stand their ground and not be forced into censoring material.