A Greater Manchester secondary school controversially axed nearly 200 books from its library using artificial intelligence-generated excuses. The crackdown included some of the most famous titles in modern literature. Shockingly, the school librarian was plunged into a safeguarding investigation that ultimately destroyed her career.
Library Shutdown Sparks Scandal
The whistleblower was revealed by free speech charity Index on Censorship, which kept the school and librarian anonymous due to vulnerability concerns. The drama began in November 2025 when the headteacher demanded the removal of Laura Bates’ Men Who Hate Women, a nonfiction book on incel culture. The book was scrapped for supposedly exposing misogyny, even though it was shelved in a section for older students.
After that, the library was shut down as a “temporary safeguarding measure.” The librarian was put under investigation and ordered to pull any book not aimed specifically at children, any that might upset pupils, or those deemed “inappropriate” or a safeguarding risk. “I was absolutely gobsmacked. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing,” the librarian told Index.
AI Generates Bizarre Book, Banning List
A list of 193 banned books was handed to the librarian. The school admitted that AI created the removal reasons but insisted the “classification” was “broadly accurate.”
- 1984 (graphic novel adaptation) flagged for themes of torture and sexual coercion
- Twilight by Stephenie Meyer is cited for “mature romantic themes” and vampire violence
- Becoming by Michelle Obama was condemned for racism and political subjects
- The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks was banned for depicting “romantic drama about enduring love and memory loss”
- Others included Terry Pratchett’s Soul Music, Zadie Smith’s White Teeth, Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, and Alan Rickman’s Madly Deeply
Sacked Librarian Blamed for Safeguarding Failures
The librarian was reported to the council as a safeguarding risk and threatened with gross misconduct. She signed off work sick due to stress and ultimately quit. The council upheld complaints, blaming her for not adhering to safeguarding guidelines over “inappropriate content”—even though some books had been bought by others and her manager had approved all purchases.
Caroline Roche, chair of the School Libraries Group, slammed the decision as “over the top” and career-ruining. She warned that the librarian’s involvement in safeguarding proceedings means she’s unlikely to work in any school again.
Free Speech Charity Sounds Alarm
Index on Censorship warned that the case exposes a lack of statutory guidance for school libraries, leaving librarians powerless against headteachers’ unchecked demands. The group branded it “an unprecedented attack on the freedom to read and intellectual freedom.”
The school has not responded to requests for comment.
