| The EveryLibrary Institute and Book Riot have announced the findings of a new survey that sheds light on the perceptions of parents regarding public libraries and the current issues they face. The "Public Libraries and Book Bans - Parent Perception Survey" gathered insights from 853 parents and guardians with children under 18 during September 2023. The survey asked parents and guardians to share their experiences and opinions about book bans, their trust in libraries, their understanding of librarians' book selection process, and their feelings on sensitive subjects in children's books. |  |
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Top-level findings show that a majority of respondents (67%) think that “banning books is a waste of time,” and 74% agree or somewhat agree that book bans infringe on their right to make decisions for their children. The survey also found that 92% of all respondents feel their child/children are safe at the library, and 58% think librarians should be primarily responsible for what books are selected in the public library. Respondents are largely unaware of how librarians decide what books to include in the library collection.
Demographics of Respondents
- 853 parents or guardians responded to the survey. MOE +/- 4.6%
- 92% report visiting a public library at least once in the last 12 months, and 88% report having a library card.
- The education levels of respondents are 18% high school graduates, 28% college graduates, and 22% who have completed graduate school.
- 65% of responses are in households with an annual income below $100,000.
- 85% of respondents are registered to vote.
- The age distribution of respondents is 18-29 (18.1%); 30-44 (30.1%); 45-60 (40.8%); >60 (11%).
- 88% of respondents are parents, 11% are grandparents, and a small percentage are foster parents, guardians, or other family members.
- Respondents reported their race as White 66.22%; Black or African American 9.56%; Hispanic or Latino 10.29%; Asian or Asian American 9.44%; American Indian or Alaska Native 1.09%; Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 0.85%; Another race 2.54%.
- Respondents’ political affiliations are Republican Party 28.97%; Democratic Party 35.94%; Independent 20.42%; None 13.57%.
Download a PDF of the Public Libraries and Book Bans - Parent Perception Survey report.
Top-Line Findings
- A small majority of respondents (53%) do not know how librarians decide what books should be in a library collection.
- 43% report that their local library has age restrictions on children’s library card borrowing privileges.
- 19% report that there are no restrictions on the child’s card, and 37% are unsure.
- A supermajority (66%) of respondents said ‘no’ when asked if a book that their child checked out made them (the parent) uncomfortable.
- 67% said ‘no’ when asked if their child has ever been uncomfortable with a book they checked out.
- 92% of all respondents say that they feel their child/children are safe at the library.
- Only 13% of respondents say that children of any age should have access to age-appropriate books about race, social justice, sexual education, and LGBTQ+ themes.
- 9 out of 10 parents or guardians say that they are the ones who should make decisions about what books their own child reads. 65% report that book banning is an important issue when voting.
Comfort with Book Topics and Difficult Themes
- Respondents are more comfortable with a child accessing age-appropriate children's books related to "social justice" and "race/racism" than they are with a child accessing age-appropriate children's books related to "LGBTQ+ characters" and "puberty and sexual education" themes.
- Respondents were most likely to feel comfortable with their child reading age-appropriate children's books containing "social justice" themes and least likely to feel comfortable with their child reading age-appropriate children's books with LGBTQ+ characters.
- Nearly 16% of respondents do not think children under 18 should have access to books with LGBTQ+ characters; 9% do not think children under 18 should read books about race/racism.
- There are significant differences between parents’ perceptions of whether books with "social justice”, "race/racism”, “LGBTQ+”, and "puberty and sexual education" themes have positive, negative, or neutral impacts on children.
Perception of Book Bans and Censorship
- 50% report being “extremely aware” or ”very aware” of attempts to ban books nationwide this year, and only 7% report being “not at all aware” of book bans.
- 40% of respondents think that a book has been banned at their local library this year.
- 64% of parents agree or somewhat agree that “banning books is a waste of time”.
- 74% agree or somewhat agree that book bans infringe on their right to make decisions for their children (42% agree; 32% somewhat agree).
- 57% say that reading opens children up to new ideas, new people, and new perspectives, and 44% say that teens should have access to books on controversial subjects and themes.
- 67% agree or somewhat agree that books about complex topics like race or sex belong in the library. That falls to 60% when asked about LGBTQ+ themes specifically.
- 33% say that some books in the children's section of public libraries are not appropriate for any child.
- 31% say that banning books is the right way to prevent children from seeing something inappropriate.
- 25% think that librarians should be prosecuted for giving children access to certain books while 41% do not.
Download a PDF of the Public Libraries and Book Bans - Parent Perception Survey report.
Social and Civic Impact of Book Bans
- 90% of respondents agree or somewhat agree that they are the ones who should make decisions about what books their child reads.
- 95% believe that parents should be involved in helping their children decide what to read.
- 57% agree and 32% somewhat agree that books should be diverse and reflect multiple communities.
- 87% report using filters or blocks on their child’s internet devices.
- 58% believe that librarians should make decisions about which books are in the library, while only 22% believe those choices should be made by local elected officials and 18% by the state legislature.
- 53% also believe that parent groups should be involved in collection development choices; 47% see library boards as playing that role.
- 65% report that book banning is an important issue when voting.
- Of those respondents who look at book bans as an important issue, 30% vote Republican, 41% vote Democrat, 18% vote Independent, and 9% are unaffiliated voters.
This survey is the first in a series of three focusing on parents and libraries. Please download a PDF of the full Public Libraries and Book Bans - Parent Perception Survey report. Watch for additional surveys on perceptions of school libraries and perceptions of librarians in fall 2023.
Please cite this report as:
Parent Perceptions of Public Libraries Survey
EveryLibrary Institute NFP and Book Riot
September 2023
https://www.everylibraryinstitute.org/parent_perceptions_survey_2023
Book Riot and the EveryLibrary Institute will continue to publish commentary and reports from this survey. Please visit bookriot.com and everylibraryinstitute.org for insights.
This survey is the first in a series of three focusing on parents and libraries. Please watch for additional surveys on perceptions of school libraries and perceptions of librarians in fall 2023.