The purpose of the week is to promote the freedom to read and raise awareness of books that face the greatest challenges and organize the protest.

Every time a library, school or media center receives a formal request to remove a book from its collection, this is referred to as a challenge. Hundreds of challenges are submitted to libraries every year. Last year, the ALA tracked 729 challenges to library, school and university materials. The Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) of the ALA compiles a list of the 10 most challenged books from the last year to inform the public.

This year’s list includes: “Beyond Magenta” by Susan Kulkin; “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison; “This Book is Gay” by James Dawson; “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” by Jesse Andrews; “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie; “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas; “Out of Darkness” by Ashely Hope Pérez; “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson; “Lawn Boy” by Jonathan Evison and “Gender Queer: a Memoir” by Maia Kobabe.

Several of these books are currently available at libraries in New Ulm. The New Ulm Public Library has copies of five of the 10 most challenged books in its collection including “Beyond Magenta,” “The Bluest Eye,” “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,” “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” and “The Hate U Give.”

Library Director April Ide said the library has about half of the most challenged books, but any book a patron wants the library can get through the inter-library loan system. The system connects every library in the state. If a patron in New Ulm wants to check out a book that is available in Duluth, the book can be shipped here.

“I am always surprised by what we can get,” Ide said.

Almost every book is available somewhere in Minnesota.

New Ulm Public Library does not typically receive formal challenges on its books. Ide said the last challenge occurred in 2018 on the children’s book “The Beach at Night.” The book was originally written in Italian and translated into English. The concern at the time was about the appropriateness of the language in the book being in the children’s section.

The New Ulm Public Library has a formal challenge process. A patron must fill out a request for reconsideration form identifying the book. The Library Director will give a formal response to the request. Any appeal of the director’s decision would go to the library board.

Ide said occasionally the library will hear the informal objection, but no formal objection has been submitted in four years.

Youth Services Librarian Kathryn Tatnall confirmed there were no problems issues with materials in the library. She credited local parents. “They know what their kids should be reading they guide them to those books,” she said.

Martin Luther College (MLC) library also has several of the most challenged books in its collection. Including “The Bluest Eye,” “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” “That Hate U Give” and “Out of Darkness.”

MLC Library Director Linda Kramer said there has never been a formal challenge made against material in the college’s collection, though she said people will occasionally ask why something is in the collection.

Kramer said that the MLC library is primarily a source for students.

“Often students writing academic papers need information on both sides,” Kramer said.

That means sometimes written material with opposing views will be on the same shelf.

MLC does have a formal process for challenging books. Anyone who makes a formal challenge is first asked if they have read the entire book. Kramer believed this serves as a barrier to challenges. It is important to understand the context of the book. Some people may not have read the book, but simply saw it on a list of controversial material.

If an individual wants to move forward with a challenge after reading the book, they must fill out a form. Library staff will make a formal decision on whether to remove it. The decision can be appealed to the vice president of Academics.

Kramer believes that most people objecting to material don’t necessarily want to ban the material, but just want to be heard on an issue.

Since many book challenges are related to children or young adult literature, schools are often the flashpoint for book banning attempts. However, New Ulm Public Schools has not faced any recent challenges to library books or books in the curriculum.

Superintendent Jeff Bertrang said in his entire career as a Superintendent he has never had anyone challenge a book at any of his schools, but there is a procedure in place to review material.

Bertrang said school policy 606.1 explains the process for reviewing material at the school. An individual challenged book would need to fill out a form, citing a specific material they wanted to be reviewed and also indicate whether they have read the full book. The challenge would then go to a review committee that would make a recommendation to the superintendent, who would determine if the challenge had merit. The person submitting the challenge could appeal the decision to the school board.

Local libraries will work together to provide patrons with reading material. MLC’s library is available to more than just campus students and staff.

New Ulm Public Library cards are valid at MLC’s library and MLC students can use their college cards at the city library.

MLC’s library is open 7:15 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday; 7:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m.-midnight Sunday.

New Ulm Public Library is open 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The ALA notes that even though attempts to ban books continue each year, in the majority of cases the books are never removed from collections and remain available. In truth, few of the books celebrated during Banned Books Week are ever banned.