A Private [School] Matter

Appendix. Survey Questionnaire

S. Section 1 Background Information
1. What grades are represented at this school? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY.

• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10
• 11
• 12
• Other (please specify) _______________

2. What is the total student enrollment in this school?

      # enrolled _________

3. Including yourself, how many certified/licensed librarians/library media specialists work in this school who are full-time and part-time? ENTER 0 IF NONE.

      Full-time # ______
      Part-time # ________

4. Including this year, how many years have you been employed as a school library media specialist?

      Number of years at this school ____
      Number of years anywhere, including this school _____

5. How many years have you been employed as a classroom teacher? ENTER 0 if NONE.

      # of years ________

6. What is the highest level of formal education you completed?

• Bachelor's degree
• Post-bachelor's study
• Master's degree
• Post-master's study
• Two master's degrees
• Specialist degree/certification
• Ph.D./Ed.D.
• Other ____________________

7. For highest degree in library or media education, check appropriate category.    

• American Library Association (ALA) accredited master's program
• National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
• Other ______________
• Unknown

8. Gender

• Female
• Male

9. What is the year of your birth?
      19 ___

10. What is your racial heritage? SELECT ONLY ONE.

• American Indian or Alaskan Native
• Asian or Pacific Islander
• Black/African American (not Hispanic)
• Hispanic
• White (not Hispanic)
• Other (Specify) ________________

S. Section 2 Library Media Center Materials Selection and Complaints

Library media center materials include print materials included in the collection as well as internet delivered materials such as websites, chatrooms, databases, etc.

An oral complaint is an oral challenge relating to the presence and/or appropriateness of material in the library media center.

A written complaint is a formal, written challenge filed with the school or library media center relating to the presence and/or appropriateness of material in the library media center.

A complaint about library media materials may be initiated by any person whether inside or outside the school.

Note: Regardless of the grade levels served at this school, focus only on library media center materials for grades 6 and above .

11. Indicate the extent to which there is a policy for the selection of library media materials. SELECT ONLY ONE.

• Informal understood policy
• Written policy not approved by school
• Written policy approved by school
• No policy of any kind
• Other (Specify) ___________

12. Some school library media specialists operate with considerable freedom. Others feel under pressure. Not considering budget or curriculum restraints, to what extent do you feel under pressure from others in the selection of library media center materials? Select the appropriate number which most nearly reflects your feeling about pressure.

• 1 (no pressure)
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6 (extreme pressure)

13. If any pressure is felt, what do you consider to be the source(s) of the pressure? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY.

• Principal/head of school
• Teacher(s)
• Parent(s)
• Community members other than parents
• Conservative group/organization/church
• Other (Specify) __________________

14. Are you aware of any oral or written complaints regarding library media center materials prior to September 2002?

• Yes
• No

15. Have there been any oral or written complaints regarding library media center materials in this school since September, 2002? If employed in this school less than three (3) years, answer only for the period in which you have been at this school. IF ANSWER IS "NO" OR “DON'T KNOW” SELECT APPROPRIATE OPTION THEN CLICK “NEXT” TO GO TO SECTION 4.

• Yes
• No
• Don't Know

16. How many oral or written complaints regarding library media center materials in this school were there in 2002–03, 2003–04, and 2004–05? ENTER 0 IF NONE.

      Oral 2002–03 ____
      Written 2002–03 ____
      Oral 2003–04 ____
      Written 2003–04 ____
      Oral 2004–05 ____
      Written 2004–05 ____

S. Section 3 Most Recently Resolved Complaint

This section provides an opportunity to report on the most recent resolved complaint occuring between September 2002 and today. A resolved complaint is one in which a decision has been reached about the presence and/or appropriateness of challenged library media center materials.

17. What was challenged? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY.

• Nonfiction book
• Fiction book
• Film/video
• Other AV material
• Magazine
• Newspaper
• Internet delivered material (e.g. website, chatroom, database, etc.)
• Other (Specify) ____________

19. Name the challenged library media center material. If book(s) provide author(s) as well as title(s), if known.
      ______________________________________________________________
      ______________________________________________________________
      ______________________________________________________________

20. Form of challenge? SELECT ONLY ONE.

• Oral only
• Written only
• Both oral and written

21. What were the topics focused on in the complaint? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY.

• Abortion
• Anti-American
• Anti-government
• Defiance of authority
• Drugs
• Evolution
• Family values
• Homosexuality
• Human reproduction
• Immaturity of users
• Inaccuracy
• Morality
• New age
• Nudity
• Obscenity
• Occult
• Parental disrespect
• Politics/political theory
• Pornography
• Profanity
• Racism
• Religion excluding evolution
• Secular humanism
• Sexism
• Sexuality
• Values clarification
• Violence
• War
• Witchcraft
• Other (Specify) ________

22. Who was primarily responsible for initiating the most recent complaint? SELECT ONLY ONE.

• Principal/head of school
• Teacher(s)
• Parent(s)
• Student(s)
• Conservative group/organization/church
• Liberal group/organization/church
• Other (Specify) ___________

23. What was the complaint based on? SELECT ONLY ONE.

• Based on material's presence in the library media center
• Based on material's presence in classroom
• Both of the above
• Other (Specify) ___________________________________

24. What was the outcome of the complaint? SELECT ONLY ONE.

• The material was retained for open access
• The material was restricted
• The material was removed from the library media center
• Other (Specify) ___________________________________

25. In your opinion, to what extent was the library media materials selection policy used during the challenge process? Select the number which corresponds most closely to your opinion. IF NO POLICY, LEAVE BLANK AND GO TO QUESTION 26.

• 1 (not used at all)
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6 (used fully)

26. What best describes the level of support provided to you by the school principal/head of school during the process? IF PRINCIPAL/HEAD OF SCHOOL WAS UNAWARE OF CHALLENGE, LEAVE BLANK AND GO TO QUESTION 27.

• 1 (no support)
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6 (partnership role)

27. What best describes the level of support given to you by teachers in the school who knew of the challenge? IF TEACHERS WERE UNAWARE OF CHALLENGE, LEAVE BLANK AND GO TO QUESTION 28.

• 1 (no support)
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6 (partnership role)

28. To what extent did you seek assistance from within the school during the time of the challenge process?

• 1 (no assistance sought)
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6 (much assistance sought)

29. Regardless of whether you sought assistance or not, from whom did you receive assistance within the school or community during the challenge process? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY.

• Library media specialists in the community
• Principal/head of school
• Local teachers' organization
• Other (Specify) ____________
• No assistance received within school or community

30. To what extent did you seek assistance from outside the school during the complaint process? SELECT ONLY ONE.

• 1 (no assistance sought)
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6 (much assistance sought)

31. Regardless of whether you sought assistance or not, from whom did you receive assistance outside the school during the complaint process? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY.

• Library media specialists outside the school
• Local public library or public library system
• State professional library or media association
• State teachers' organization
• State Department of Education
• National organizations (Specify) ___________________
• Other (Specify) ____________________
• No assistance received outside school

32. Was there active support for retention of the challenged material? Supporters might include administrators, teachers, students, parents, community individuals, and groups. IF POSSIBLE SUPPORTERS HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF CHALLENGE, LEAVE BLANK AND GO TO QUESTION 33.

• 1 (no support)
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6 (high support level)

33. Was there active support for removal of the challenged material? Supporters might include administrators, teachers, students, parents, community individuals, and groups IF POSSIBLE SUPPORTERS HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF CHALLENGE, LEAVE BLANK AND GO TO QUESTION 34.

• 1 (no support)
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6 (high support level)

34. To what extent did community public information media such as newspapers, radio, or television know of the complaint? IF PUBLIC INFORMATION MEDIA HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF COMPLAINT, SELECT 1 THEN CLICK “NEXT” TO GO TO SECTION 4.

• 1 (no knowledge)
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6 (extensive knowledge)

35. To what extent did newspapers report on the complaint? IF NO COVERAGE BY NEWSPAPERS, SELECT 1 THEN GO TO QUESTION 37.

• 1 (no coverage)
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6 (extensive coverage)

36. How did the newspapers react to the complaint?

• 1 (supported removal)
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6 (supported retention)

37. To what extent did television stations report on the complaint? IF NO COVERAGE BY TELEVISION STATIONS, SELECT 1 THEN GO TO QUESTION 39.

• 1 (no coverage)
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6 (extensive coverage)

38. How did the television stations react to the complaint?

• 1 (supported removal)
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6 (supported retention)

39. To what extent did radio stations report on the complaint? IF NO COVERAGE BY RADIO STATIONS, SELECT 1 THEN CLICK "NEXT" TO GO TO SECTION 4.

• 1 (no coverage)
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6 (extensive coverage)

40. How did the radio stations react to the complaint?

• 1 (supported removal)
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6 (supported retention)

S. Section 4 Perspectives of the Library Media Specialist

As a key player in challenges to library materials, your perspectives are important. In responding to this section, reflect upon your experience as a library media specialist as well as your overall perspectives of school, community, and national environments.

Record the number from the scale (1 = strongly disagree, 6 = strongly agree) which most accurately reflects your level of agreement with the statements that follow. Do not spend too much time on any one statement. There are no right or wrong answers. Your initial reaction is what is requested.

41. Library media specialists are respected members of the school faculty.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

42. When a principal/head of school and faculty work well together, you can expect library media center materials to be retained when a challenge occurs.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

43. Library media specialists who work well with faculty members on a day-to-day basis will find teachers supportive when material(s) is/are challenged.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

44. Library media specialists who receive assistance or support during a complaint from persons or organizations outside the school will be less likely to be intimidated during the challenge process.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

45. It is appropriate for the library media specialist to adhere to requests of the principal/head of school without question.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

46. Getting people to do the right thing depends upon ability. Luck has little or nothing to do with it.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

47. Most people would view my principal/head of school as a strong educational leader.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

48. I feel that I have a number of good qualities.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

49. Of all the different philosophies which exist in this world, there is probably one which is correct.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

50. Many times I feel that I have little influence over the things that happen to me.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

51. A materials selection policy is effective in dealing with library media center complaints.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

52. Most faculty members would describe my principal/head of school as having an authoritative manner.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

53. When the principal/head of school does not support the library media specialist in dealing with a complaint, challenged material will usually be removed.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

54. Even though support groups such as other librarians and library organizations exist, library media specialists are really powerless in affecting the outcome of complaints to library media center materials.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

55. Information media in the community such as newspapers or television can greatly influence what happens to library materials that are challenged.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

56. The higher the level of educational training held by the library media specialist who gets complaints about library materials, the greater the likelihood that library materials will be retained.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

57. In this complicated world of ours, the only way we can know what's going on is to rely on leaders or experts who can be trusted.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

58. There are two kinds of people in this world: Those who are for the truth and those who are against the truth.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

59. I take a positive attitude toward myself.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

60. Library media specialists who work well with the principal/head of school on a day-to-day basis will find the principal/head of school supportive when library materials are challenged.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

61. Library media specialists who receive assistance or support during a complaint from others within the school will be less likely to be intimidated during the challenge process.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

62. If the library media specialist is not viewed as a respected colleague in the school, when library media center complaints occur, the material will usually be removed.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

63. Organized conservative groups that are involved in attempts to remove library media center material can greatly influence the removal of materials.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

64. The worth of library media specialists often goes unrecognized.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

65. Library media specialists receive excellent training in higher education programs to prepare them to deal with challenges to library media center materials.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

66. Most people just don't know what's good for them.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

67. On the whole, I am satisfied with myself.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

68. This world is run by the few people in power and there is not much the ordinary person can do about it.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

69. When the library media materials selection policy is followed during the challenge process, challenged material has a greater chance of being retained.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

70. A self-confident library media specialist will be less likely to be intimidated during the challenge process when faced with a challenge to library media center materials.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

71. When a principal/head of school and faculty work well together, they are less likely to be divided when faced with a challenge to library media center materials.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

72. The support of the principal/head of school is critical in the retention of challenged library media center materials.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

73. Most complaints about library media center materials can be traced to organized conservative groups.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

74. Based upon my first-hand experience, it is accurate to say that library media specialists often feel like second class citizens among the faculty of a school.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

75. It upsets me whenever people stubbornly refuse to admit they are wrong.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

76. It is impossible for me to believe that chance or luck plays an important role in my life.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

77. Most people would say that my school has the characteristics of an effective school, such as clear goals, dedicated staff, high expectations, positive parent-community environment, and positive learning climate.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

78. Please provide any additional comments about your experiences with challenges to library media center materials in the space below.