[Libs-Or] For PL Staff Who Experienced Book Challenges: Research Participants Sought

[MAURER Jennifer * SLO]

Hi, folks. This research request was posted in ALA Connect, but ALA membership is not required to participate in the study. The focus is on public library staff who have been involved in book / materials challenges. - Best, Jen (Jen Maurer, School Library Consultant, State Library of Oregon, jennifer.maurer at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:jennifer.maurer at slo.oregon.gov>)

[Jieun Yeon]<https://connect.ala.org/network/members/profile?UserKey=54df0c10-9338-445e-9699-18bff264024d>
Jan 22, 2026 1:00 PM
Jieun Yeon
Dear library community,

My name is Jieun Yeon, and I am an assistant professor at the University of Maryland College of Information.

I and Dr. Soohyun Park at the University of South Alabama Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice want to learn about how public workers navigate uncertain situations at work. We are specifically interested in book challenges and censorship related issues, which have  been a challenging issue for the library field.

We are inviting public library workers who want to  discuss their work experience regarding any formal/informal material challenges or controversy  related to a library material or service. Our goal is to understand how you made sense of this  confusing - and sometimes frustrating - situation and how you moved forward.

Please visit this Google form<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSes5ll4DdId9oALlIPgWUFTkmWOkO3qY1ms7UeNzyYxlcNXUw/viewform> to learn more about the research and participate!

Who can participate?

● Public library worker in the U.S. (any level, including library directors)

● Over the age of 18

● Those who experienced (or experiencing) uncertainty in their work due to a formal or informal public challenge, reconsideration request, or controversy related to a library material or service.

What Participation Involves:

● An 1.5 - 2 hour interview

● Token of appreciation ($35 electronic gift card)

If you have any questions, please contact me at jyeon756 at umd.edu<mailto:jyeon756 at umd.edu> or Soohyun at spark at southalabama.edu<mailto:spark at southalabama.edu>. We strongly encourage you to use a personal email account when contacting us, as this can help protect your confidentiality in the event of any FOIA requests.

Best,
Jieun
This research has been reviewed according to the University of South Alabama IRB for research involving human subjects (IRB no. 25-476/2384674-2).

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Jieun Yeon
Assistant Professor
College of Information
University of Maryland
She/Her/Hers
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