Library
For parents across Canada: school collections are curated under board procedures — and new
materials or policies can arrive with little fanfare. Parents can request catalogues,
selection criteria, and — when needed — follow the formal reconsideration process.
Boards publish different policies for selection and challenges. Start with your board’s
library or learning-resources procedure, then ask the school librarian or principal for
the local process. For Canada-wide letter outlines and a high-level challenge checklist,
see the
national toolkit.
Example from a live board hub:
Durham Parents Resource.
What to request in writing
- Access to the school or board catalogue (online portal or export)
- Selection and deselection criteria used for classroom and library materials
- Age / grade banding guidance for sensitive titles, if the board publishes any
- The formal reconsideration or challenge form and who reviews submissions
- Timelines for a written decision and any appeal step
Selection vs. challenge
Selection is how titles are added or kept. Asking for criteria and recent
purchases is usually a transparency request, not a complaint.
Challenge / reconsideration is a formal ask to review a specific title.
Use the board’s form, stick to the title and policy criteria, and keep copies of every
submission and reply.
Practical tips
- Name the exact title, author, and ISBN when you can
- Explain your concern against published criteria — avoid vague accusations
- Ask whether classroom sets follow the same process as the open library
- Request confirmation that your submission was received and logged
- If the answer is “no list available,” ask how parents are expected to review holdings