Developmental maturity then affects what materials are appropriate for children at different ages and levels. Appropriate topics at what age level are often hotly debated: sex, drugs, human development, death, and more. What changes a book from controversial to inappropriate are the details and pictures. The issue is not always about overt censorship; it is about the library's selection process, weeding, and relocation of books that are controversial. Libraries decide to include a book in their collection based on several factors. Once the library has decided to include a book, it has been determined appropriate for the library’s collection. Determinations are also made as to whether a book would be shelved in the children’s, young adult or adult sections. A book that is potentially questionable or controversial is judged to decide whether it's content is relevant and age-appropriate. If the book elicits a negative reaction from parents and members of the community, then the book needs to be further scrutinized to see if this is a justified reaction.
The majority of materials targeted for banning are related to sex and sexuality. Other materials targeted include those dealing with the supernatural, violence, and rebellion and those depicting racism, sexism, and profanity. Internet access has been a large focus of censorship activities in the past few years. For specific examples please see ALA- The 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000 and the articles Where is Judy Blume? Controversial fiction for older children and young adults by Ann Curry.
Materials challenged on the basis of sexual content include not just those that depict sexual activities, but sometimes merely the implication that it has taken place ‘offstage’ at some point. Allowing children to read about the existence of single mothers, teen pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases has been opposed as a corrupting influence. Books that discuss the existence or acceptance of homosexuality are also objected to.
Books dealing with the supernatural are challenged because those disputing them equate magic and witches with Satanism or anti-Christian beliefs. Books dealing with aspects of violence, including suicide, death and crime, are objected to as being inappropriate for children. Themes of rebellion against authority figures are often challenged.
Racism and sexism are opposed, even in books that condemn them, because of the language used or a desire to shield children from the unpleasant side of life. Some books have been disputed because of their tone. A book with a realistic portrayal of the Holocaust was objected to as being depressing. Profanity, including language, crude behavior and drug use, is also targeted.
Various strategies are used by public libraries when items in the collection are challenged. The most basic is explaining the selection policy and the philosophy of intellectual freedom. Relocation of an item from one area to another is a common procedure to alleviate patron concerns about young children having access to inappropriate material without parental knowledge. A book may be moved from the children’s section to young adult or from young adult to adult. Other strategies to diffuse the situation are to reclassify the book to reference, or another non-circulating area, change the cataloguing from one subject to another, or moving it to another branch. These approaches are seen by many as preferable to removing the item altogether. The expectation is that the patron who wants the material will find it no matter what its physical location.
The issues involving censorship are similar, whether it involves printed material or other forms such as the Internet. There is a wider range of material available on the Internet, however, which would not be available in a library due to selection policies. This includes pornography, violence, and instructions on how to do or build dangerous things. In libraries, the focus is on filtering or blocking what is available to children. The strategies to deal with objections differ, due to the technologies involved. Libraries can use filtering programs or restrictive browsers or portals. There are technological reasons why some libraries do not use filters, as various laws have required. The most prevalent one is some networks would require all computers to be restricted, even ones intended for adults. This is seen as overly restrictive and infringing on adults right to access information. Many libraries implement policies to restrict children’s access, including requiring parental permission. Local Libraries were contacted about their policies.