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Timely Topics: Why Are Library Books Making Headlines?

Librarians in public, academic, and school settings have been selecting materials for readers and library users since libraries first opened. Periodically, there are objections to those materials based on community standards and individual values. This perennial issue has resurfaced in recent times with very emotional outcries and objections as to what a reader might find in the collections housed in the library. What are the trends observed across the state and nation and how are local Wake County Public Libraries responding to these challenges?

Join Dan Brooks, Materials Selector Manager for Wake County Public Libraries and Michelle Underhill, State Librarian for the State of North Carolina, as they discuss current trends.

About the presenters:

Dan Brooks
Dan is the Selection Manager (Collection Development) for Wake County Public Libraries (WCPL) and holds a holds a master's degree in library science from North Carolina Central University. He has 29 years of experience working to help connect readers and books, ten of which were in retail bookstore management before joining WCPL. In his current role, Dan supervises librarians who select the books for WCPL. Over the past year he helped lead a staff committee to develop a new Request for Reconsideration policy & process and also was an active member of the committee that then developed WCPL's new and updated Collection Development policy.

Michelle Underhill
Michelle Underhill serves as the State Librarian for North Carolina and was appointed to the position in June 2022. She has worked in libraries for over two decades, with 14 years serving a variety of positions at the State Library of North Carolina. She received her master’s degree in library and information science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She’s passionate about lifelong learning, improving access to library services, and the varied ways libraries serve their communities.