Committee recommends clearer process for library book reconsideration; board pauses policy changes amid public debate

A superintendent‑appointed committee recommended three changes to how the Kenmore‑Tonawanda Union Free School District handles objections to library materials, and the district’s superintendent asked the board to pause immediate policy changes so staff can draft clearer procedures.

Doctor Anne Martell, who presented the committee’s findings, said the committee concluded library materials are distinct from instructional materials and therefore are not subject to the district’s formal objection process for instructional materials. “Based on our current district board of education policy, the committee recognized that library materials are not instructional materials and therefore are not subject to the same objection process that instructional materials are,” she said.

The committee’s three recommendations were: make existing procedures that allow families to restrict an individual student’s access to a title more transparent and accessible; convene an expert, building‑level group of library media specialists and administrators to develop an internal reconsideration process consistent with American Library Association (ALA) guidelines; and revise district policy to clarify the difference between library and instructional materials.

Anne Martell described the committee’s composition and process: it included library media specialists, teachers, students, building administrators, district administrators and parents, and it reviewed Board Policies 83.20 and 83.30 and ALA guidance documents. The committee put a district form on school library pages to let individual parents restrict a title for their child, Martell said.

Superintendent Zamato framed two paths for the board: either treat library materials as separate from instructional materials and not subject them to the formal objection process, or, if the board wants a process, adopt a reconsideration procedure grounded in ALA selection criteria. “If it was me and there’s a book that comes in question, I have a simple question for the librarian. Did you select this book using the ALA process? If the answer is yes, it's a done deal,” Zamato said.

Public comment at the meeting was heavily weighted toward keeping contested titles in school libraries and supporting librarian expertise. Multiple speakers urged the board to avoid wholesale removal of books and to respect the professional selection process. Kurt Lovenstein told the board, “Bans off our books. Bans off our books. We all need the freedom to read.” Tracy Lobenstein, a parent and district graduate, said books can “teach empathy” and “sometimes they save lives.” Student board representative Alexis Castleman reported that student leadership groups favor the option that leaves selection authority with librarians and rely on ALA guidelines.

No formal policy change was adopted at Tuesday’s meeting. Zamato said he had asked staff to pause submitting policy revisions so district leaders and the policy committee can prepare clearer proposed language for the board’s review.

The committee’s recommendation and the superintendent’s request for pause set the next steps: convene the smaller reconsideration committee of library experts and administrators to draft a reconsideration procedure consistent with ALA guidance and propose clarified policy language describing the difference between library and instructional materials.