Challenged books

It is important to have a policy on challenged books in place when you are creating your policies and procedures manual.  This policy should be put together by a committee and agreed upon by the parties involved.  It should also be approved by the principal and the superintendent.  This is important because you need to know what to do if a book in your library is actually challenged.  You want to be able to handle the situation professionally and in a way that respects the challenger.  The less amount of stress you add to the situation the better.  If you have a policy in place it is easy to retrieve the policy and show it to the challenger.  It is also nice because it will give you the steps you need to follow.  You won't have to stutter and stammer to the challenger.  You will be confident when you tell them about your policy and how the matter will be handled.  Then you put the choice to continue the challenge back in their court off of you.  Even if they continue to challenge the book your policy will guide you in the forms to file and the people to contact.  This saves a lot of time and frustration if it is accomplished early on before a problem arises.