Book challenges
Dear North Lanarkshire Council,
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
Yours faithfully,
Jonathan Fagg
Dear Sir/Madam
I acknowledge receipt of your email which is receiving attention.
I shall contact you again when I am in a position to respond more fully to your request.
Yours faithfully.
Jacqueline Keachie
For Freedom of Information Co-ordinator
North Lanarkshire Council
Contact by email
Dear Mr. Fagg
Request for Information
I refer again to your e-mail of 27 September 2023 seeking information in
relation to libraries.
Having investigated, I can advise that from 2018 to 2022 North Lanarkshire
Council have had no titles challenged.
I can advise that North Lanarkshire Council, having regard to the
provisions of Section 21 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act
2002, has established a procedure whereby any person who has requested
information and is in any way dissatisfied with the decision on that
request, can within forty working days require a review of that decision
by writing to the Chief Officer (Legal and Democratic), Civic Centre,
Windmillhill Street, Motherwell ML1 1AB. Accordingly, if you are
dissatisfied with this decision and seek such review please write to the
Chief Officer (Legal and Democratic).
I would advise, also, that in terms of Section 47 of the Act a person who
is dissatisfied with a notice given by the local authority under Section
21 of the Act - ie. a notice following a review of a decision by a local
authority, or by the failure of a local authority to give such a notice -
may make application to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a
decision as to whether, in any respect specified in that application, the
request for information to which the requirement relates has been dealt
with in accordance with the Act. Such an application must be made within
six months of the review decision and be in writing or in another form
which, by reason of it having some permanency is capable of being used for
subsequent reference. The application must state the name of the applicant
and provide an address for correspondence. The application must also
specify the request for information to which the requirement for review
relates, the matter which gave rise to the applicant’s dissatisfaction
with the original decision of the local authority and the matter which
gives rise to the applicant’s dissatisfaction with the decision on review
by the local authority or the failure of the local authority to issue such
a decision. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted as
follows:-
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St. Andrews
KY16 9DS
email: [1][email address]
Appeals to the Scottish Information Commissioner can also be made online
via the following link: -
[2]www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal
I hope this information is sufficient for your purpose. If, however, you
require further information – or I can assist in any other way – please
let me know.
Yours sincerely
Angelene Kirkpatrick
For Freedom of Information Co-ordinator
North Lanarkshire Council
Civic Centre
Windmillhill Street
Motherwell
ML1 1AB
Working from home
Please contact via email
We work to defend the right to FOI for everyone
Help us protect your right to hold public authorities to account. Donate and support our work.
Donate Now