Librarians’ ‘risk propensity’ in the face of book bans

The concept of “risk propensity” stood out for me in my studies this week. Wilkins-Jordan and Hussey defined risk propensity as “how much one is willing to risk” (2019, p. 88) and in the current political climate of increased prevalence for book bans, librarians face far greater risk for upholding the values of our profession.

Cusick in her lecture even mentioned increased attention to reconsideration of library materials: stating that school, academic, and public libraries have been making sure that their reconsideration policies are “up to date” (2026, 05:08).

Pen America has been tracking an increase in book-banning legislation that “singles out materials representing certain identities for extra scrutiny” (Benitez, Markham, & Meehan, 2025, para. 9). The books that are being targeted are “books about race or racism” or books with “any LGBTQ+ people or themes” (Benitez, Markham, & Meehan, 2025, para. 9).

The actual nature of the books’ content is irrelevant; under these bills, the books by virtue of centering these subjects or viewpoints “are ‘divisive’ and not ‘appropriate’ for children and teenagers in schools” (Benitez, Markham, & Meehan, 2025, para. 9).

Bills are being enacted among individual state legislatures, but two particularly disturbing bills are being advanced at the federal level: H.R. 7661 in the U.S. House of Representatives and S. 4925, its counterpart in the U.S. Senate. Both bills would prohibit the use of money from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to “provide or promote literature or other materials to children under the age of 18 that includes sexually oriented material” (Miller, et al, 2026, page 1; Banks, Lankford, & Tuberville, 2026, page 1).

The bills overtly sexualize transgender identities. Their definitions of “sexually oriented material” include any material that “involves gender dysphoria or transgenderism” (Miller, et al, 2026, pg. 4; Banks, Lankford, & Tuberville, 2026, pg. 4).

The effects of all of these book-banning bills has led to confusion and overcompliance. Benitez, Markham, and Meehan cited as one example Virginia’s SB 656. Even though its concern with “sexually explicit materials” applied only to materials in classrooms, “the law was frequently cited as reason for removal of books from school libraries” (2025, para. 26).

Along with increased challenges against books, librarians “have been threatened with criminal charges by library patrons, law enforcement, conservative activists, [and] political figures” (Benitez, Markham, and Meehan, 2025, para. 15).

Hunt, a school librarian in Central Texas (cited by Egan & Maher, 2026) reported that the past year had been the worst of her life. “I was targeted by a Moms for Liberty group in my town, the town I grew up in. There were grievances filed; I was doxxed online. I live by myself and I feared for my safety” (Hunt, cited by Egan & Maher, 2026, para. 11).

Fitzmaurice in Whittier, N.C., formerly of the Fontana Regional Library system, stated that “You have to be willing to sit in a public meeting where one of the people might come in and say, ‘She grooms children for sex trafficking.’ You have to sit there and act professional and take that” (cited by Egan & Maher, 2026, para. 12).

At the same time as librarians face this onslaught of backlash, we remain guided by the ethics of our profession. As Wilkins-Jordan and Hussey advised in my course reading this week, “Ethics should be the basis of decision making, particularly when others are impacted by the benefits and consequences of the alternatives” (2019, pg. 89).

Saldivar (cited by Egan & Maher, 2026) emphasized the importance of not sacrificing one’s values in order to appease legislators. “When you compromise too early, you set yourself up to always need to compromise. Just move that book. Why don’t you just move the books? But where does it stop?” (Saldivar, cited by Egan & Maher, 2026, para. 44).

What adaptation would be more “appropriate” than a nationwide book ban? I want the U.S. Congress to instead take up the Right to Read Act of 2025 (H.R. 6440 and S. 3365). The Right to Read Act also defines an “effective” school library as one that is staffed by a “state-certified school librarian” as well as by “supporting staff” (Grijalva, et al, 2025, p. 2; Reed, et al, 2025, p. 2).

References:
Banks, J.; Lankford, J.; & Tuberville, T. (2026). To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to prohibit the use of funds provided under such Act to develop, implement, facilitate, host, or promote any program or activity for, or to provide or promote literature or other materials to, children under the age of 18 that includes sexually oriented material, and for other purposes, S. 4925. 119th Cong. https://www.congress.gov/119/bills/s4925/BILLS-119s4925is.pdf

Benitez, L.; Markham, M.; & Meehan, K. (2025, Dec. 18). The bills igniting book bans. Pen America. https://pen.org/report/the-bills-igniting-book-bans/

Cusick, C. (2026). Week 8 Lecture (Policies) [Video and slide presentation]. University of Central Missouri, LIS 5622: Library Administration & Leadership.

Egan, E. & Maher, J. (2026, Oct. 1). Librarians on libraries. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/10/01/books/state-of-libraries-librarians.html

Grijalva, A.S., et al. (2025). To ensure that students in schools have a right to read, and for other purposes, H.R. 6440. 119th Cong. https://www.congress.gov/119/bills/hr6440/BILLS-119hr6440ih.pdf

Miller, M.E. et. al. (2026). To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to prohibit the use of funds provided under such Act to develop, implement, facilitate, host, or promote any program or activity for, or to provide or promote literature or other materials to, children under the age of 18 that includes sexually oriented material, and for other purposes, H.R. 7661. 119th Cong. https://www.congress.gov/119/bills/hr7661/BILLS-119hr7661ih.pdf

Reed, J., et al. (2025). To ensure that students in schools have a right to read, and for other purposes, S. 3365, 119th Cong. https://www.congress.gov/119/bills/s3365/BILLS-119s3365is.pdf

Wilkins-Jordan, M. & Hussey, L.K. (2019). Decision making. In L.K. Hussey & D.L. Velasquez (Eds.), Library management 101: A practical guide [2nd ed.] (pp. 85-92). ALA Editions.