Freedom of information response
Library book challenges
As a freedom of information request, please provide data regarding the number of challenges to books received by your library/libraries for each calendar between 2018 and 2022, plus so far in 2023.
For this request, a book challenge is defined as a formal complaint requesting that materials be removed from a library because of content or inappropriateness. Specifically, please provide each of the following for each year if available:
- The number of challenges received
- The title and author of the books challenged
- The reason (if any) provided for the challenge
- The action taken in response to the challenge
We have not received any ‘official’ complaints re the information requested below.
We have recently received some feedback regarding a children’s book, which we have passed on to complaints and they have emailed the resident to see if she would like to record it as an official complaint, but as of today no ‘official’ complaints received.
You are free to use any information supplied to you for your own use, including non-commercial research purposes. However, any other type of re-use, for example, by publishing the information or issuing copies to the public will require the permission of the copyright owner.
Where the copyright is owned by Thurrock Council, you must apply to the Council to re-use the information. Please email information.matters@thurrock.gov.uk if you wish to re-use the information you have been supplied. For information where the copyright is owned by another person or organisation, you must apply to the copyright owner to obtain their permission.
If you are dissatisfied with the way in which the council have managed your FOI request you can pursue an Internal Review by contacting us using the above email address. An internal review must be submitted within 40 working days of your original reply. Your request will be considered by a senior member of the Information Management Team who will update you with the outcome of the review.
If you remain unhappy following the outcome of your Internal Review you may wish to refer your case to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and details of this organisation can be found at www.ico.org.uk. Please be advised that the ICO will not consider your case until they have confirmation that you have already been through the Internal Review stage with the council.