Banned Books:
The Roleplaying Game

Alex Sharp
Bryan Neil Jones
Lyn Hunter

THE PLAN

Work time
Game time
Ground rules
Introductions

WORK TIME

Part 1: Prepare for a challenge

Have policies:

Resource Reconsideration policy
Collection Development policy
Gift policy
Anti-harassment policy / Code of Conduct

Part 1: Prepare for a challenge

Have policies approved by your board / governing body
Policies must be transparent
Make language strong + intentional to protect you

Part 1: Prepare for a challenge

Know your policies:

Collection Development
Reconsideration process
Code of Conduct
Practice your 'libraries are for everyone' speech

Part 1: Prepare for a challenge

Know your state laws
Build a local network of colleagues + library supporters
Know your collection
Ask for help if you need it

Part 3: A challenge happens!

Is this an…

In person challenge
or a Paper Tiger (aka the form)

Part 3: A challenge happens!

In person:

Take a deep breath and straighten your spine (for real)
Remember your professional ethics – do not obey in advance
Your library supports the freedom to read for every patron
ALA Bill of Rights is good fodder

Remember your professional ethics: “when political leaders set a negative example, professional commitments to just practice become more important. […] Authoritarians need obedient civil servants, and concentration camp directors seek businessmen interested in cheap labor.” “If lawyers had followed the norm of no execution without trial, if doctors had accepted the rule of no surgery without consent, if businessmen had endorsed the prohibition of slavery, if bureaucrats had refused to handle paperwork involving murder, then the Nazi regime would have been much harder pressed to carry out the atrocities by which we remember it.” -Timothy Snyder, On Tyranny
Do not obey in advance: “Most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then offer themselves without being asked. A citizen who adapts in this way is teaching power what it can do.” -Snyder

– 'The library has something for everyone, and I will be happy to help you find something else that will work better for you/your child.'

Part 3: A challenge happens!

In person:

Get your papers
Get a person
Get them off the stage
Listen to them, see them, thank them (maybe)
Do not apologize + start the process☺

Know where your paper reconsideration forms are. Let the person know you’ll get them a physical copy or write down the URL for them. This buys you a few minutes to catch your breath and gather yourself. Your patron code of conduct applies in this situation, too.
While you’re getting the form, do everything you can to get a second person to go back with you, preferably a supervisor, but any other library staff member will do. You need a witness and maybe emotional/moral support.
Try gently and calmly to move the patron off the center of the floor if possible. Everyone in the space will be unsettled and maybe even feel intimidated or scared, so try to prevent a scene by speaking quietly and calmly and getting the situation moved away from the rest of the patrons.
Explain the reconsideration procedure. Let them know if there’s a digital option to submit the reconsideration form, and assure them that your library will follow the procedures set out by its governing body.
Without tolerating abuse or harassment, listen to the patron, acknowledge their complaint without apologizing. Thank them for their involvement in their community/children’s reading lives/etc.
If the form is received on the spot, begin the process.

Part 3: A challenge happens!

Paper tiger

Alert your boss-type
Create a committee and inform the ALA OIF + local org
Do not preemptively obey
Read the book (if it is a book)

Part 3: A challenge happens!

Paper tiger

Make a recommendation and write it up
Give the complaint and your recommendation to your governing body
Let ALA OIF and local orgs know the outcome

Part 3: A challenge happens!

What you may have to tolerate:

The right of others to make a challenge
Challenges happening at any time
Finding yourself in an uncomfortable situation

Part 3: A challenge happens!

What you do not have to tolerate:

Abuse, harassment, or disrespect
whether in person or online
Ongoing confrontation

Part 5: They didn't follow the rules

Now what?

Have a social media policy
Have patron rules of conduct

Unfortunately, it is a sick sad world and things won’t always go by the book. You may find yourself in more dangerous situations. Librarians have been harassed online, doxed, or physically threatened when dealing with book challenges. So in this section will go over what to do if you’re being harassed, doxxed, or threatened. Each of these parts could be its own program so this is just a overview.
Have a social media policy. What should it say:
Social media accounts belong to the library. Abusive language won’t be tolerated. The library can remove or block content that it chooses.
Have patron rules of conduct. What should they say:
The should clearly state what is okay or not okay, and outline steps of what will happen if you do things that are not okay, including online.
If someone threatens you online, it’s the same as being threatened in person and they the person doing the threatening should face consequences

Part 5: They didn't follow the rules

Document, document, document
Have trusted allies
When to escalate

Part 5: They didn't follow the rules

HR
Bosses
Cops

Social media
Press
Public forums

Who are you going to escalate to?
HR – if you are being harassed at work, you need to tell your HR department. Taking action will be easier if you have policies.
Bosses – always a wildcard
Cops – cops will likely be useless about online harassment, but if you are physically threatened you need to contact law enforcement. They may still be useless but then you have record of the threat.
Social media
Easy part: report abuse to social media platforms
Hard part: when to clap back. 1) have your allies do it for you, start a hash tag.
If you go on the attack, make sure you attack the idea and not the person
2) if the harassment is very bad and you feeling traumatized, let your trusted allies log into your accounts
Press: this is tougher one, what are the consequences if you speak out,
This is where your allies come in. If you’re the public face of your library it could be a bad look if you’re attacking your patrons, but other people should when appropriate.
Example: if someone blows up an explicit frame of a graphic novel, displays it during a public meeting, and says ‘you’re explosing our children to bad things’ I think it is important for someone to call them out and say, “No, actually you brought this enlarged, explicit picture to a public hearing and it is you who are showing inappropriate things.’
Again, make sure you attack the idea and not the person.
Editorializing: it is okay to cause good trouble, but you shouldn’t call a press press conference everytime someone challenges a book (that’s what your policies are for), but the situation we are in now requires us to speak out. it is bigger than libraries.

Part 5: They didn't follow the rules

Have a security mindset

‘Do Not Call’ list(s)
Harden your social media
Reset all your passwords

Part 5: They didn't follow the rules

Have a security mindset

Use a password manager

Part 5: They didn't follow the rules

Have a security mindset

Turn on 2FA everywhere
Use Signal

Part 5: They didn't follow the rules

Have a security mindset

Guns are for cowards but tasers don’t require a permit (in Tennessee)
Brass knuckles are illegal (in Tennessee)
Pepper spray gel won't blow back

GAME TIME

Part 2: Gather your party

What kind of party?

IRONSWORN: A Tabletop Game of Perilous Quests by Shawn Tomkin

Part 2: Gather your party

Give your character a name

Part 2: Gather your party

Pick a character class
Assign your stats
Action rolls!

Part 2: Gather your party

Action rolls!

Roll 2d10s + 1d6
Add the appropriate stat to the d6
If d6 + stat > either d10…
…it's a HIT!

Part 2: Gather your party

Action rolls!

Higher than both d10s = Strong hit
Higher than one d10 = Weak hit
Lower than both d10s = Miss

Big foam dice or online dice roller projected for everyone to see are helpful for this part
Strong hit–big success! What you wanted to happen, happens!
Weak hit–a small success! Something good happens but maybe with a set back.
Miss–Fail! Something bad happens
Example: The party is deep in a dungeon. You solved the maze, disarmed countless traps, and your team's rogue has successfully picked the locked on the most extravagant treasure chest you have ever seen. The lid creaks as you begin to open it. The creaking sound is soon swallowed by voluminous clatter and rumble. It's coming towards the room! You slowly turn as a horde of goblins spills into the room. The party is now surrounded by sea of green. Make a roll!
Example: You've never been so excited. This is thee conference. Your conference. The one you care about the most. When your talk was accepted you almost peed your pants. You're about to go on. It's not that many people, but it everyone that matters to you. You still can't believe you're here. You step up to the mic. You panic! Make a roll!

Part 2: Gather your party

Assign stats: 3-2-2-1-1

Edge (quickness both mental and physical, ability to adapt and change)
Heart (empathy, social skills)
Iron (courage, willpower)
Shadow (sneakiness)
Wits (intelligence, knowledge)

Part 2: Gather your party

Make a vow!

Part 4: Face the challenge!

How much magic?

No magic
A wee bit of magic
A lot of magic

Part 4: Face the challenge!

Begin the journey!

Part 6: Face your fears!

Slay the dragon!

Let's hear your game stories
Let's hear your real life stories

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Garnar, M. and Trina J. Magi. Intellectual Freedom Manual, 10th ed. ALA Editions, 2021.
Pekoll, K. (2018, December 8). Hateful Conduct in Libraries: Proactive Preparation [Text]. Advocacy, Legislation & Issues. https://www.ala.org/advocacy/hatefulconduct/preparation
Pekoll, K. (2017, December 25). Informal Complaints [Text]. Tools, Publications & Resources. https://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/selectionpolicytoolkit/informalcomplaints

Pekoll, K. (2019). Beyond banned books: defending intellectual freedom throughout your library . ALA Editions.
Online Harassment Field Manual—PEN America. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://onlineharassmentfieldmanual.pen.org/
Rules of Conduct. (n.d.). Nashville Public Library. Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://library.nashville.org/about/policies/rules-conduct
Snyder, T. (2017). On tyranny: twenty lessons from the twentieth century . Tim Duggan Books.

Banned Books:The Roleplaying Game

THE PLAN

WORK TIME

Part 1: Prepare for a challenge

Part 1: Prepare for a challenge

Part 1: Prepare for a challenge

Part 1: Prepare for a challenge

Part 3: A challenge happens!

Part 3: A challenge happens!

Part 3: A challenge happens!

Part 3: A challenge happens!

Part 3: A challenge happens!

Part 3: A challenge happens!

Part 3: A challenge happens!

Part 5: They didn't follow the rules

Part 5: They didn't follow the rules

Part 5: They didn't follow the rules

Part 5: They didn't follow the rules

Part 5: They didn't follow the rules

Part 5: They didn't follow the rules

Part 5: They didn't follow the rules

GAME TIME

Part 2: Gather your party

Part 2: Gather your party

Part 2: Gather your party

Part 2: Gather your party

Part 2: Gather your party

Part 2: Gather your party

Part 2: Gather your party

Part 4: Face the challenge!

Part 4: Face the challenge!

Part 6: Face your fears!

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Banned Books:
The Roleplaying Game