Characteristics and impact assessments of censorship attempts to public school library media centers in Oklahoma

Scope and method of study. The purpose of this study was to assess the increased frequency of objections against the appropriateness and presence of library media resources and the impact of these objections on final outcome resolutions and the selection processes of school library media specialists in Oklahoma public schools during the 1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-1995 school years. The 283 participants were randomly selected from the 1,848 school sites in Oklahoma. All grade levels, population densities, and geographic locales were represented. The data was collected by the subject's completion of a research-based, field tested survey questionnaire. Responses were tallied and converted to percentages. The data was evaluated and comparative conclusions were drawn. The results of this study provide descriptive, predictive information which will enable school personnel to develop proactive policy while maintaining equitable practices for all persons involved.;Findings and conclusions. The most significant results of this study showed objections had increased only 1% during the past three school years. Centers serving grades P-12 had the most gain while secondary centers had significant decreases in the number of objections lodged. Urban, elementary centers with collections of 4000-8000 volumes were the most susceptible to objections. Materials were retained 52.17% of the time and a direct correlation between complete use of a reconsideration policy and retention of resources was established. Fifty-seven percent of all respondents had not experienced any objections. When compared to recent studies, the results mirrored the findings of Williams & Dillon's 1993 Australian study and Jenkinson's 1994 Canadian study. This implied that censorship concerns were not limited to Oklahoma but international in scope.