Book Riot and the EveryLibrary Institute have teamed up for a survey that examines mother and father’ perceptions of public libraries and e-book bans. The survey requested questions like, “Do you feel your child is safe at the library?” “How comfortable are you with LGBTQ+ characters and themes in children’s books?” and “At what age should children have access to age-appropriate puberty and sexual education books?”
The survey discovered that the majority mother and father and guardians (67%) suppose e-book bans are a “waste of time” and 74% agree or considerably agree that e-book bans infringe on their proper to make selections for his or her kids; 89% mentioned mother and father/guardians are those primarily liable for what their youngster reads. 92% mentioned they really feel that their kids are protected on the library, and two thirds mentioned their youngster has by no means checked out a e-book that made them uncomfortable.
Not all outcomes had been anti-book ban, although. 49% agreed or considerably agreed with the assertion “Librarians should be prosecuted for giving children access to certain books.”
Another query asks when mother and father and guardians suppose kids ought to have entry to sure classes of books: LGBTQ books, books about race/racism, puberty and sexual schooling books, in addition to books about social justice. Respondents had been most snug with social justice books: 44% mentioned kids ought to be capable to entry them both at any age, Pre-Ok, or Elementary School age, and solely 6% mentioned kids ought to by no means have entry to them. Books with LGBTQ characters or themes fared the worst, with 16% of respondents saying kids ought to by no means have entry to them, even by highschool. When requested what sort of impression LGBTQ books have on kids, solutions had been cut up pretty evenly between optimistic (36%), impartial (32%), and adverse (32%).
You can discover the complete outcomes, together with many extra questions, at EveryLibrary. This is the primary of three surveys specializing in mother and father and libraries, so examine again for extra all through fall 2023.
Find extra information and tales of curiosity from the e-book world in Breaking in Books.
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