'Living Bible' library book challenge withdrawn in Central Bucks district. Here's why

Jo Ciavaglia, Bucks County Courier Times
Updated ·5 min read
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Four new library books have been challenged over their sexual content and nudity in the Central Bucks School District bringing the total number of books under review now to 65.

A fifth challenge of "The Living Bible" was withdrawn Tuesday afternoon after this story published online.

The district has also created a new online directory identifying books that are facing reconsideration and potential removal from school libraries. As decisions are finalized, the reports and their outcomes will be posted on the library website.

The titles are the first new books under review since February, when two unidentified individuals filed 61 challenges over alleged inappropriate content under the district's controversial Library Materials Policy 109.2, which was adopted last year.

It is unknown if the challenges were filed by the same individuals who filed the previous ones. The district has declined to release the names of individuals who file book challenges under the policy citing privacy rights.

Here is what we know about the new challenged books and how the district plans to keep the community informed about review committee outcomes.

Jean Kwok, author of "Girl in Translation" speaks at the April 11, 2023 Central Bucks School Board meeting about her book, which is under review for possible removal from school libraries.
Jean Kwok, author of "Girl in Translation" speaks at the April 11, 2023 Central Bucks School Board meeting about her book, which is under review for possible removal from school libraries.

For subscribers Two filed 61 Central Bucks library book challenges. Why their names may remain private.

Why was the 'Living Bible' Challenge withdrawn in Central Bucks?

In a letter Tuesday to Library Coordinator Melissa Burger, the person who challenged "The Living Bible" withdrew it, claiming it was filed months ago and the person didn't realize it had been accepted.

The challenge, the letter stated, was filed to point out the "hypocrisy of the far-right extremist movement to ban books that contain topics they deem 'inappropriate.'"

"The reasons given by the initial challenges of the first five books were that those books included topics such as sexual content, violence and incest, all of which you will find in the Bible in abundance," said the challenger, who asked to remain anonymous.

"The Living Bible" is described as a personal paraphrase, not a translation, of the Bible in English by Kenneth N. Taylor first published in 1971. Taylor used the American Standard Version of 1901 as his base text. The district's only copy of the book is located in the Central Buck West High School library.

The letter stated that while the challenge was filed to "highlight the hypocrisy" of the Library Materials Policy 109, challenges also place a "substantial burden" on librarians, teachers and staff.

"Every challenge is labor intensive. It is also extremely costly at about $1,000 per challenge," the person wrote. "I hope those who put in all the other challenges realize how burdensome this is for our teachers and staff and how costly this is for our community. I hope others join me on the right side of history and withdraw their book challenges."

More on Central Bucks library policy Central Bucks School District orders librarians to remove two LGTBQ+ themed books

What Central Bucks libraries have the challenged book titles?

  • “A Court of Mist and Fury:”  Four copies at Central Bucks South High School and one copy at Central Bucks West High School.

  • “A Court of Wings and Ruin:”  Three copies at Central Bucks South High School and one copy at Central Bucks West High School.

  • “Fallout:”  Four copies at Central Bucks South High School, one copy at Central Bucks West High School.

  • “Push:”  One copy at Central Bucks East High School.

Leo Burchell, a Central Bucks West student, voices his opposition to a proposed library policy during a Central Bucks school board meeting in Doylestown Township on Tuesday, July 26, 2021. Later in the meeting, school board directors voted 6-3 to approve the policy, which opponents called a pathway to book banning.
Leo Burchell, a Central Bucks West student, voices his opposition to a proposed library policy during a Central Bucks school board meeting in Doylestown Township on Tuesday, July 26, 2021. Later in the meeting, school board directors voted 6-3 to approve the policy, which opponents called a pathway to book banning.

Author speaks out against book bans 'Lawn Boy' survives Central Bucks book ban. Author Jean Kwok hopes her book does, too

How will Central Bucks notify the community of book challenge decisions?

The new Book Reconsideration Log can be accessed on the district’s library webpage.  It lists the titles, authors, publishers and copyright dates for all books that have been challenged under the Library Materials Policy 109.2.

The page also lists a link for the review committee reports and outcomes of reviewed materials.

As of Monday, only five final reports are available, and those are for the book titles subject to a challenge initiated by district administration in December and recently completed. Review, committees, ordered the removal of two books with LGBTQ+ themes — “Gender Queer“ and “This Book is Gay.”

The district has not yet announced what titles it will purchase to replace them.

Copies of three other titles, including two with LGBTQ+ themes, will remain in district libraries.

Under summary of concerns for the five books, the same reason was given: “Administration verbally expressed a concern regarding sexually explicit content.”

The reports for the five books show that they were reviewed by the district’s Library Coordinator, professional educators and at least one administrator. No identifies of review committee members were listed.

Review committee members for all five books indicated they had read the challenged book in its entirety.  Committee members also evaluated the literary merit of the challenged work and posted the finding regarding the work’s literary merit.

The reviews of “This Book is Gay” and “Gender Queer” the committees found the books contained at least one of the following policy violations:

  • “Excerpts contain explicit written descriptions of sexual acts.”

  • “Excerpts contain visual depictions of nudity - not including materials with diagrams about anatomy for science or content relating to classical works of art.”

  • “Excerpts contain visual or visually implied depictions of sexual acts or simulations of such acts.”

  • “Excerpts contain explicit written descriptions of sexual acts.”

The committee votes to remove the books were unanimous.

Review committee reports were due earlier this month for the first 61 community book challenges filed between Feb. 8 and 14.  Under policy 109.2 the deadline for review committees to submit their recommendations is 90 days after a challenge is filed.

In-depth look at CBSD challenged books Concerns cited in Central Bucks' 61 book challenges fall outside policy. We have the files

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Challenge against "Living Bible" withdrawn in Central Bucks School District