To request that a public library remove or reclassify a book, follow its written request for reconsideration process: find the library’s policy, submit its required form, and use the stated appeal route if you disagree with the decision. If you want a book retained, check the same policy for who may appeal and how to participate. Procedures and deadlines vary by library; the library’s rules and applicable state and local law control.
Find the library’s reconsideration policy
Search the library’s website for “collection development policy,” “materials selection policy,” “request for reconsideration,” or “statement of concern.” If the library is part of a system, the policy may be posted by the system headquarters or governing board rather than at an individual branch.
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The policy should explain how materials are selected and reviewed, who handles a challenge, what happens during review, and how to appeal. The American Library Association (ALA) recommends written policies that spell out selection, weeding, reconsideration, and the governing body’s process. Its guidance and sample procedures are professional recommendations, not a uniform national rule. See the ALA Selection & Reconsideration Policy Toolkit.
Submit a request for reconsideration
Check whether an informal conversation is required
Some policies ask a person to discuss a concern with a supervisor or library director before filing a formal request. ALA’s sample policy includes that step, but it does not apply everywhere. Follow the local policy rather than assuming a conversation is either mandatory or sufficient.
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Complete the library’s form
Libraries may call the form a “request for reconsideration” or a “statement of concern.” ALA defines a formal reconsideration request this way: “A formal reconsideration request is a written document that identifies the specific resource that is of concern and the reasons for reconsidering its inclusion in the library’s collection.” See the ALA guidance on formal challenges.
Use the library’s own form and answer its questions. ALA’s guidance identifies details commonly requested:
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- The book’s title and author.
- What prompted the concern and the specific reasons for reconsideration.
- Whether you read or examined the entire work; if not, which portions you reviewed.
- Other resources or viewpoints the library might consider, if relevant.
- The action you want reviewers to consider, such as withdrawal or reclassification.
A challenge starts a review; it does not itself remove a book. The outcome depends on the library’s policy and may be retention, removal, reclassification, or another action the policy permits.
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Under ALA’s recommended process, staff acknowledge the request, explain the review steps and expected timing, examine the challenged work in its entirety, assess it against the library’s published selection criteria, and provide a written decision explaining the result. The local policy determines the actual process and timetable.
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ALA’s sample public-library procedure keeps challenged materials in circulation while reconsideration is pending. That is not a rule for every library: check the local policy before assuming the book remains available. ALA also recommends completing the established review process rather than allowing an individual staff member or administrator to remove material outside that process. See the ALA sample public-library policy.
How to appeal a decision or support keeping the book
Read the appeal section as soon as the director or review body issues its decision. Confirm who is eligible to appeal, how an appeal must be submitted, and the deadline. ALA’s sample public-library procedure allows a written appeal to the board within 10 business days of the director’s decision; this is an example, not a nationwide deadline.
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If you want the book retained, use the policy’s appeal and public-comment routes. ALA recommends that policies provide avenues for appeal both for people seeking removal and for those seeking retention. If the appeal goes to a board meeting, check whether public comment is allowed, how to sign up, and whether speaking time is limited. In ALA’s sample procedure, the person appealing is notified of the meeting’s time and place, and the board may limit the length of public comments.
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Make comments relevant to the policy test: explain how the book fits the library’s selection criteria and why the review should follow those criteria. ALA suggests that reviewers consider the work as a whole and consult relevant information, such as a content summary, professional reviews, awards, circulation frequency, and how widely area libraries hold the title. These are considerations for a deliberate review, not substitutes for the library’s own published criteria. See the ALA formal-request guidance.
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Records, privacy, and reporting a challenge
Do not assume a reconsideration form or related correspondence will remain confidential. ALA advises libraries to explain that the request and process may become part of the public record, and to date and retain notes that may also be public records. What must be disclosed depends on applicable law; check local rules before making promises about privacy.
The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom accepts questions and reports of challenges and tracks attempts to remove or restrict library materials. Reporting can help document an incident, but it does not replace submitting the local form or meeting the library’s appeal deadline. ALA reported 724 attempts to ban or restrict library resources from September 1, 2024 through May 31, 2025. During that same reporting period, 538 challenges demanded removal of 4,411 books from school and public libraries. These are incidents reported to ALA for that interval, not a complete count of all U.S. challenges. See ALA’s book-ban data.
First Amendment context
ALA states that the First Amendment protects library users’ access to library resources and that public institutions should use policies grounded in intellectual-freedom principles. That general principle does not guarantee the outcome of an individual dispute: legal analysis can depend on the facts, the government actor, and the jurisdiction. For a specific legal question, consult a qualified attorney familiar with the relevant state and local law. See ALA’s intellectual freedom resources.
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