Libraries face growing calls to remove LGBT+ books

Librarians are facing growing calls for LGBT+ books to be removed from shelves, industry leaders have warned, as the influence of US pressure groups is felt in the UK.

- TARA COBHAM

Some library workers who fight back against the demand for censorship are being trolled online or even losing their jobs, according to members of the sector.

LGBT+ charity Stonewall has raised concerns after new research seen by The Independent revealed that the vast majority of book removal requests in UK school libraries have been focused on LGBT+ content.

Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper series about two schoolboys in a romantic relationship and Billy’s Bravery by Tom Percival about a boy who wants to dress up as superhero Nature Girl were among the titles reported to have faced calls for removal.

After interviewing 10 UK school librarians about book censorship, Alison Hicks, an associate professor in library and information studies at UCL, said: “Almost all the UK attacks reported in my study centred on LGBTQ+ materials, while US attacks appear to target material related to race, ethnicity and social justice as well as LGBTQ+ issues.”

Her study, to be published in the School Library Association (SLA)’s journal The School Librarian, suggested that US action groups are increasingly targeting UK libraries. However, the study was small, and the level of influence is currently still not clear.