Understanding the assignment with the book removal law

Life on a reference desk taught me how asking questions and listening to understand rather than respond are components of success. A “reference interview” is a conversation between a library worker and a library user, usually at a reference desk, on a Bookmobile, during a free library tech class, at a Storytime, or even in line at the grocery store. The library worker responds to the user's initial explanation of their informational need by first attempting to clarify that need and then by directing the user to appropriate information resources.

Perhaps a reference interview is elevated to “thought partnership” when one imbues a collaborative and encouraging spirit into the interaction. Authentic thought partnership requires openness, engagement, and curiosity. “Understanding the assignment” as I’ve come to understand from TikTok trends, means giving 110% of your focus, attention, and skill to a specific endeavor and it serves as the bedrock of reference interviews, thought partnership, and achievement.

Reading over the new guidelines for SF496 this past week leaves me with the impression we don’t yet understand the assignment. In April 2023, the Iowa Library Association (ILA) and Iowa Association of School Libraries (IASL) surveyed teacher librarians across the state to determine if the new legislation could be successfully implemented as published. What we learned from our wide reference interview was that additional clarity and guidance would be essential for the work to be done. In May of 2023, a joint Letter of Inquiry was sent to the Iowa Department of Education by ILA and IASL.

The new guidelines provided some answers yet questions remain. The guidelines prescribe “reasonable physical, administrative, and technological controls to ensure access to age-appropriate materials based on their age and grade,” but reasonable exercise of those controls can be broadly interpreted due to economic, political, and social factors within a given school district.

Does SF496 preclude the existing school board policies and processes for reconsideration of school library materials? Or will those local governance structures and procedures still take shape?

Public hearings during the legislative session share characteristics with reference interviews. The public comes to share questions, concerns, and thoughts. Those in positions of public service listen, learn, and ask clarifying questions to understand and help the public.

Active and engaged library workers have dedicated time, thought and have faced scrutiny in their efforts to clarify the objectives of this legislation and how the law will be applied. They seek direction and referral to appropriate information resources. They treat governance much like a reference interview and attempt to fully understand the assignment.

However, in the case of SF496, our conceptual cart has always been a bit before the horse. Curriculum developers, school board members and library workers were not openly consulted during the drafting of this legislation. Several have come to the table to provide insight, support, and insightful questions with middling acknowledgment. Despite public comment concluding at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 4, teacher librarians and school districts are subject to this law and its disciplinary actions on Jan. 1.

If the objectives of the SF 496 legislative process, guidelines, and public hearings are similar to those of a reference interview. They seek to subsume the voice of the people and strive to both understand and represent the community, we are leaving room for improvement in understanding the assignment.

Sam Helmick is president of the Iowa Library Association.