The following statement was sent to Dr. Renee Palazzo, Superintendent of the Glocester Schools:
The shared, core vision of the Rhode Island Library Association (RILA) and the School Librarians of Rhode Island (SLRI) is to support libraries in protecting the rights to education, literacy, and intellectual freedom of the populations they serve.
We are concerned that across-the-board restrictions to access reading materials in the Glocester school libraries and limiting students' access to books would be a disservice to the parents and students and other members of the learning community. School libraries are charged with fostering a love of reading and learning. When a child finds a book they can see themselves in, it may make all the difference in how that student feels about reading and books in general as they continue their academic journey. In many cases, an elementary school is the first time a student gets the chance to experience the wonder of the library on a regular basis. This experience is often the catalyst for children becoming lifelong learners and readers.
Limiting access to books to students based on the needs of one student is contrary to a library’s overall mission to meet the needs and interests of all students. For example, if a parent tells the librarian that their student has nightmares and therefore should not borrow books with “scary” pictures, the librarian will recommend other, well-considered choices. This option should not be taken off the table for other students or their parents. In another scenario, parents often ask their child to bring home a specific beloved story to read aloud to them that might not appeal to other parents. What is good for one is not necessarily good for all.
Librarians are professionals who hold graduate degrees and are specifically trained to develop carefully curated collections for their libraries with professionally reviewed and award-winning books that fit the interest and needs of their patrons. Implementing a broad protocol to appease one parent’s request runs counter to the Library Bill of Rights which states that “books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves.”
The freedom to read is a human right, regardless of age, a right that is constitutionally protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article I, Section 21 of the Rhode Island State Constitution. These provisions ensure that all Rhode Islanders have access to information and the right to form their own opinions. Having the ability to think critically about the world around us is tantamount to being a productive and learned citizen.
RILA and SLRI urge the Glocester School District to rescind restrictions that limit students' access to books and to work with the district’s librarians to update library policies to encourage intellectual freedom and provide an orderly procedure for reconsideration of materials.
