Harford County Public Schools is launching a committee to evaluate and make recommendations about books that some have said should be banned from school libraries.
The planned 27-member Library Materials Reconsideration committee is designed to “streamline and standardize the process when library materials are up for reconsideration across all HCPS schools,” said Jillian Lader, the system’s manager of communications.
Harford’s committee, for which the system is now seeking volunteers, will read the materials challenged by students, teachers, parents and legal guardians. According to Lader, the school system has not received any formal reconsideration requests within the past two years.
However, Harford County Board of Education Vice President Melissa Hahn last September identified six books in county schools that she and other parents deemed inappropriate.
When asked why the reconsideration committee was created, Lader said it is a response to the American Library Association’s recommendation that every library have a “current and comprehensive written policy.”
Lader explained that the recommended policy led to Harford forming a Library Planning Workgroup tasked with reviewing the school’s existing practices, which she said resulted in the evaluation procedure outlining the reconsideration committee.
This move comes as challenges to books in schools and public libraries nationwide and in Maryland are rising. In Carroll County, officials have been evaluating 58 books the system’s superintendent ordered removed from school library shelves last September amid challenges.
In response to book bans, Maryland lawmakers approved, and Gov. Wes Moore signed the Freedom to Read Act — setting standards for content in libraries for the first time and making Maryland one of the few states to enact such legislation. The law prohibits school and public libraries from excluding material solely because of the author’s origin, background or views, or for partisan, ideological or religious reasons.
Prior to the reconsideration committee, individuals concerned with materials in school libraries were prompted to speak with the school’s librarian. If that conversation did not alleviate concerns, the individual could submit a complaint to the librarian.
Once the new committee is established, it will be divided into three subcommittees charged with evaluating “challenged” materials across all grade levels. Subcommittees will not be specific to topics, medium or grade level. Each nine-person subcommittee will consist of two parents of HCPS students, one community member, one HCPS teacher, one HCPS administrator, one HCPS librarian, two HCPS students in grades eight through 12 and one HCPS curriculum specialist.
If the committee finds material to be inappropriate for schools, a recommendation for removal will be presented to the system’s supervisor of innovation in learning. Within 30 days, Superintendent Sean Bulson will review and render a final decision regarding the material.
Members will be appointed by a committee created by the system’s executive director of curriculum, instruction and assessment.
Lader said the sub-committee composition is meant to draw “various viewpoints and individuals who can bring diverse perspectives to the table.”
Committee members will be appointed in June to serve one-year terms. Members will meet once in September, up to five times between Oct. 1 and Dec. 15, and up to five times between March 1 and May 15, 2025.
Committee meetings will not be open to the public or recorded but the results of each reconsideration will be posted on the HCPS Library Media website .
All applications will be considered by a committee appointed by the school system’s executive director of curriculum, instruction and assessment. Applications are open to all Harford County residents and the deadline to apply is June 5.
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