Kate Byroade has worked in a library since she was a teenager, and for the past 15 years she鈥檚 been a public library director in Colchester.
She vividly remembered a very public attempt to ban a book in 2022.
鈥淚t was a very frightening day,鈥� Byroade said. 鈥淥ur work and our integrity were being challenged.鈥�
鈥淲ho is RuPaul?鈥� is part of a popular children鈥檚 biography series meant for kids ages 9 to 12. During a recent visit to the Cragin Memorial Library, two copies sat on a shelf next to biographies of Barack Obama and Mr. Rogers.
As children scuttled in the background, Byroade opened the book and leafed to page 81.
鈥淩uPaul, dressed in drag, is spelling out the word 鈥榁IVA鈥� the way cheerleaders will spell out words,鈥� she said. The photo was from a MAC Viva Glam makeup campaign in 1994 to raise funds for HIV/AIDS.
At the time, the book was part of a Pride Month display. Colchester鈥檚 first selectman had posted a warning on Facebook about the image and, two days later, a patron filed a petition against the book.
The library has for when that happens.
鈥淲e go back, we look at the reviews, we look at how the publisher described the age range to see if they agree,鈥� Byroade said.
Ultimately 鈥淲ho is RuPaul?鈥� went back on the shelves.
But the book challenge was not a one-off in the state. Similar issues have played out in Newtown, Old Lyme, , and beyond.
It鈥檚 just a microcosm of what鈥檚 happening on the national level.
鈥榃hat鈥檚 best for our kids鈥�
The American Library Association tracks efforts to ban or restrict access to reading materials nationally. But the data depends on news stories or librarians to self-report, so it鈥檚 considered incomplete.
In 2022, there were 29 library title challenges in 黑料吃瓜网, the ALA found. One year later that number quadrupled to 117.
Most of the books being challenged are intended for young readers. They revolve around gender identity, sexual orientation, sexual education, and books on race and racism.
鈥淭he librarian is a professional, who curates a collection that represents a wide range of viewpoints in the library,鈥� said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA鈥檚 Office for Intellectual Freedom.
Challenges dropped off last year and in 黑料吃瓜网, but the number was still far higher than petitions documented before the pandemic.
But it is not just book challenges that librarians face.
Jenny Lussier, executive director of the , said some of its members have received threats.
鈥淲e鈥檙e all professionals,鈥� Lussier said. 鈥淲e all want what鈥檚 best for our kids.鈥�
A bill now under consideration by the General Assembly would require all libraries in 黑料吃瓜网 to create a process to handle book petitions 鈥� or challenges.
鈥淲e want to make sure that there is a fair and equitable way for students to have that, but also for parents to have their voices heard as well,鈥� Lussier said.
鈥榃e鈥檙e not trying to ban books鈥�
Under , people could still challenge books. There would just be rules, like, a title can鈥檛 be removed because someone finds it offensive. It would also protect librarians. And the current bill language says that If someone did challenge a book, that title couldn鈥檛 be challenged in the library again for three years.
Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) helped introduce the measure.
鈥淲e have to make sure that the policy of the state of 黑料吃瓜网 is that we don't ban books because somebody doesn't like the content,鈥� Duff said. 鈥淪omebody else might like the content.鈥�
State Republicans say they want the measure to go further, like saying minors shouldn鈥檛 be able to access materials that have sexually explicit content or nudity. The books they referred to had illustrations about and .
鈥淲e鈥檙e not trying to ban books,鈥� State Sen. Henri Martin (R-Bristol) said in an exchange at a February public hearing. 鈥淲hat we鈥檙e trying to do is protect our children.鈥�
Others weighed in saying librarians are the experts 鈥� and are already thinking about what鈥檚 age-appropriate.
Lawmakers passed the children鈥檚 committee bill in March, along partisan lines. Duff said his caucus is supportive of the bill, and a priority for many of them. Now, it鈥檚 on the Senate calendar waiting to be called for a vote.
鈥業t violated library values鈥�
Suffield recently emerged as the latest focal point in the ongoing debate over what books 黑料吃瓜网 kids should 鈥� or should not 鈥� read.
On March 14, put out a special subcommittee meeting agenda that included . The controversial 25-page draft would censor books on gender identity and sexual orientation.
Hours before the meeting, the ACLU of 黑料吃瓜网 to reject the policy. So many people turned out to a public meeting to oppose it that the commission leader abruptly called it off, and it resumed virtually at a later date.
鈥淚t was essentially codifying discrimination against queer stories, LGBTQ stories, and it was unacceptable,鈥� Sam Lee with the Intellectual Freedom Committee of the 黑料吃瓜网 Library Association said. 鈥淚t violated library values.鈥�
鈥漃arents, not officials, should guide their children's reading choices,鈥� said Lois Crozier, a librarian and Suffield resident.
It鈥檚 still unclear to the public how Suffield鈥檚 new draft policy came forward. It had not been on the agenda at prior meetings, or discussed in the policy subcommittee. Library Commission Chairman Christine Sinopoli had no comment, and the draft policy remains an open point of debate in town.
Sen. Duff said the Suffield situation is why Democrats want to pass their bill creating a statewide standard.
鈥淵ou've got people who think that they can make decisions for everybody else, and that just because they're a certain way means everybody else should be a certain way.鈥�
The state measure would also apply to book collections, which would have to incorporate non-discrimination laws.
鈥極pen to all鈥�
Over 200 people wrote in with support for the bill. June Carpenter spoke before lawmakers in Hartford and said libraries should continue to be a safe place for all points of view.
鈥淲here we are free to read whatever we choose, without government intrusion,鈥� Carpenter said.
鈥淨ueer youth, especially, should know that our stories do have value, and deserve a place on bookshelves,鈥� author SJ Taylor added.
Back in Colchester, Kate Byroade walked to the entrance of the Cragin Memorial Library. Bricks painted with the titles of historically banned books lay in the garden, like 鈥淗unger Games鈥� and 鈥淭he Color Purple.鈥�
She pointed above the library鈥檚 tall doors where in big letters 鈥渙pen to all鈥� is carved.
A reminder, Byroade said, that鈥檚 ingrained in the bones of the institution.
黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 Maysoon Khan and Jim Haddadin contributed reporting.
