The Birth of Library Exposed: A Look at How the Project Came to Life (Part 3)

By the fall of 2021, attendance at Rockwood School Board meetings had increased dramatically. Concerned parents flocked to the meetings to voice their opinions on a variety of issues, ranging from Covid-19 safety measures to classroom lessons. Some parents turned their attention to library books, sparking a new wave of debates.

Parents expressed their frustration with witnessing one book challenge after another result in the same outcome: Retained without restriction. They read excerpts from challenged books to highlight their concerns. Parents often found that they had to self-censor their speech to prevent interruptions from the Board President, who was conscious of the fact that the meetings were being broadcast live on YouTube.

Parents expressed skepticism about the Challenge Committees’ proposed solutions. One mother argued that Solution #1, which involved placing Young Adult stickers on the books, could actually make the books more appealing, while Solution #2, which allowed parents to place a notification in their child's Infinite Campus account, was not well known among parents. As a result, she expressed doubt that either of these solutions would effectively address their concerns.

Another mom who spoke took issue with the Challenge Committees’ rationale for retaining certain books. She quoted the committee as arguing that well-written books with diverse perspectives should be retained, even if they contained explicit content. The mom disagreed with this perspective, arguing that schools should prioritize protecting children from inappropriate material, rather than striving for diversity at any cost.

Despite facing resistance from the school board, parents refused to give up. They continued to attend board meetings and speak out throughout the fall, even though they were not successful in getting any books removed. However, their persistence did pay off in other ways, as they were able to raise awareness and generate publicity about the issue. Recognizing that awareness was crucial to their cause, a group of parents decided to launch a website to support their efforts. Library Exposed was born.

Library Exposed spotlights potentially controversial or harmful books within the Rockwood School District. Their team reads each book in full to provide parents with relevant excerpts, presented without commentary, so that they can make informed decisions about the reading materials their children are exposed to. They strive to provide valuable information and resources that can benefit all parents.