The EveryLibrary Institute and Book Riot have partnered on a series of surveys asking parents about their perceptions of public libraries, school libraries, and the profession of librarianship in a time of censorship and book bans.
The "Parents' Perception Survey Series Final Report" digests and discusses all three surveys in a comprehensive wrap-up report. This report gathered insights from 3,206 parents and guardians with children under 18 across three surveys between September and November 2023. The surveys asked parents and guardians about their perception of librarians' trustworthiness as professionals and curators of a library collection and their attitudes toward books and book bans.
Top-level findings from the Parents Perception Report are:
- 85% of respondents say they trust librarians.
- 58% of parents think public librarians should be primarily responsible for what books are selected for the public library as opposed to elected officials, library boards, or parent groups.
- 92% of respondents say libraries are safe spaces for their children.
- 75% of respondents do not believe their libraries are experiencing book bans.
- 67% of respondents feel that book bans infringe on their rights to make decisions for their children.
- 75% of respondents report that neither they nor their child have checked out a book from the library that they felt was inappropriate.
- 63% of respondents agree or somewhat agree that “banning books is a waste of time” at the public library.
- 57% of respondents say banning books from the school library is an appropriate way to prevent children from learning about certain topics.
- 80% of respondents agree that "school libraries should have content rating systems.
- 95% of respondents want to see a school library in their child’s school.
The increase in book bans is a concerning trend threatening the democratic values of freedom of expression and access to information. The survey report should inform librarians about curating content and creating policies that align with community values and expectations, as well as inform policymakers and educators about making decisions that reflect the actual views of parents rather than those of special interest groups.
Please click here to download your copy of the "Parents' Perception Survey Series Final Report" (opens PDF)
You can view each individual survey below.
Parent Perceptions of Public Libraries and Book Bans 2023
The "Public Libraries and Book Bans - Parent Perception Survey" was released in October 2023. It gathered insights from 853 parents and guardians with children under 18 about their experiences and opinions about book bans, their trust in libraries, their understanding of librarians' book selection process, and their feelings on sensitive subjects. Please visit the survey findings page where you can download a PDF of the report.
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.
Parent Perceptions of Librarians 2023
The "Parents Perceptions of Librarians" findings were released in November 2023. This survey asked 1,527 parents and guardians with children under 18 in two surveys during October and November 2023 about their feelings about librarians in school library and public library contexts as trustworthy professionals and curators of a library collection. Top-level findings show that an impressive 92% of parents, grandparents, and guardians trust librarians to curate appropriate books and materials. 90% of parents report being comfortable allowing their child to select their own materials and 96% feel their children are safe within the library. 91% of parents and guardians say that they trust public librarians and 86% find school librarians trustworthy. Likewise, 85% of parents report being satisfied or very satisfied with librarians
Parents are of mixed opinion on whether they think public librarians have a political agenda:
Yes, and they should = 35%
No, but they should = 9%
Yes, and they should not = 12%
No, and they should not = 44%
The full Parents' Perceptions of Librarians findings demonstrate that librarians in schools and public libraries are trusted by families of various backgrounds and income levels, and are valued in society. Librarians are valued in society and are central to education and communities. They foster safe, engaging environments that support learning and creativity, with their expertise and warmth resonating deeply with parents nationwide.
Parent Perceptions of School Libraries and Book Bans 2023
The EveryLibrary Institute and Book Riot conducted the "Parents' Perception of School Libraries and Librarians" survey of 616 parents and guardians during December 2023 to understand their perceptions on topics like book bans, access to school libraries, and the involvement of parents in their children's reading choices.
Key findings indicate a strong belief among parents in the importance of school librarians, with a vast majority asserting that every school should have one. Despite this, there are considerable concerns about unrestricted access to books. Most parents feel that access to certain books should be age-restricted or require parental permission. A majority also believe in proactive parental involvement, like being notified when their child checks out a book, or having the option to opt their children out of using the school library altogether. An even larger majority favor book rating systems in school libraries.
The survey shows an often contradictory landscape of opinions by parents and caregivers about how their children interact with the school library. Parents overwhelmingly recognize the importance of school librarians and value the safety and educational role of school libraries. However, they also express considerable concerns about unrestricted access to certain books, with many advocating for age-appropriate restrictions and greater parental oversight.
View the survey results at "Parents' Perception of School Libraries and Librarians".