The presentation is in celebration of Banned Books Week, and concentrates on the process of surviving a book challenge.

1. BOOK
CHALLENG
E
AHEAD
Surviving a
LIB 620 Library Administration
Fall 2014
book
challenge

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67GDSczduTA&list=PL0
2Yd8H4JhiBgAeoUFQ-s2zKYuS8ieaqp

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What is Banned Books Week?
Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to
Read
Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a
sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in
schools, bookstores and libraries. More than 11,300 books
have been challenged since 1982. For more information on
Banned Books Week, click here. According to the
American Library Association, there were 326 challenges
reported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom in 2011, and
many more go unreported.
Banned Books Week Sponsors
American Booksellers Association
American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression
American Library Association
American Society of Journalists and Authors
Association of American Publishers
National Association of College Stores
Endorsed by the Center for the Book in the Library of
Congress
In 2011, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund; National
Coalition
Against Censorship; National Council of Teachers of English;
and
PEN American Center also signed on as sponsors.

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Based on intellectual freedom
What is Intellectual Freedom?
Intellectual freedom is the right of every
individual to both seek and receive
information from all points of view without
restriction. It provides for free access to all
expressions of ideas through which any and
all sides of a question, cause or movement
may be explored.
Intellectual freedom is the basis for our
democratic system. We expect our people to
be self-governors. But to do so responsibly,
our citizenry must be well-informed.
Intellectual Freedom and Censorship Q & A

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Censorship
[is] the control of the information and ideas
circulated within a society
The rationales for censorship have varied, with
some censors targeting material deemed to be
indecent or obscene; heretical or blasphemous;
or seditious or treasonous. Thus, ideas have
been suppressed under the guise of protecting
three basic social institutions: the family, the
church, and the state.
• From the website of the Internet Censorship Project, a
program of the Open Society Institute's Internet
Program, part of Soros Foundations Network.

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Freedom of speech
The First Amendment of the
Constitution of the United States
of America
Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press; or
the right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the
government for a redress of
grievances. The Bill of Rights to the U.S.
Constitution was ratified on
December 15, 1791

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What about the freedom to read?
Not explicitly mentioned in the
Constitution
Does that mean to say that the First
Amendment does not apply to reading?
See court cases on The Right to Read
Freely on ALA’s Notable First Amendment
Court Cases web page

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What is a book challenge?
A challenge is an attempt to remove or
restrict materials, based upon the
objections of a person or group.
Challenges do not simply involve a
person expressing a point of view;
rather, they are an attempt to remove
material from the curriculum or library,
thereby restricting the access of others.
Challenges to library materials
ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom

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Types of challenges
1. Expression of Concern
2. Oral Complaint
3. Written Complaint
4. Public Attack
5. Censorship
Challenges to library
materials
ALA Office for Intellectual
Freedom

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Why are books challenged?
Books usually are challenged with the best intentions—
to protect others, frequently children, from difficult
ideas and information. See Notable First Amendment
Cases.
Often challenges are motivated by a desire to protect
children from “inappropriate” sexual content or
“offensive” language.
Although this is a commendable motivation, Free Access
to Libraries for Minors, an interpretation of the Library
Bill of Rights (ALA’s basic policy concerning access to
information) states that, “Librarians and governing
bodies should maintain that parents—and only
parents—have the right and the responsibility to restrict
the access of their children—and only their children—to
library resources.” Censorship by librarians of
constitutionally protected speech, whether for protection
or for any other reason, violates the First Amendment.
About
Banned &
Challenged
Books

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Freedom to Read Under Fire as
Attempts to Ban Books Continue
•
Posted: 09/22/2013 10:40
am
• According to the American Library
Association’s (ALA) Office for Intellectual
Freedom (OIF), there were 464 reported
attempts to remove or restrict materials
from schools and libraries in 2012 and more
than 17,700 attempts since 1990, when the
ALA began to record book challenges.
• Danger does not arise from viewpoints other
than our own; the danger lies in allowing
others to decide for us and our communities
which reading materials are appropriate!

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http://www.aasl.ala.org/aaslblog/?p=4982

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Oldham County Schools
Challenged materials
• Every media specialist should be prepared ahead of
time for challenges to library materials.
• Such a challenge would jeopardize a school media
specialist’s ability to adhere to a core policy set up in
the Library Bill of Rights. Libraries should “provide
materials and information presenting all points of
view on current and historical issues.”
• The school library media program is at the “forefront
of complex and sensitive information issues in today’s
society.” As such, prior to ever receiving a challenge,
each library media center should have a well-defined
collection development policy (established by the
school’s site-based council) that details the proper
procedures and steps to be taken to select and
purchase new materials for the library media center.
• In addition to having a collection development policy,
most councils have a specific policy that addresses
challenges to instructional and library materials.
Oldham County
Schools Library
Media Specialist
Handbook

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Handling Challenges to Materials
in Your Collection
1. Keep your policies and procedures current
2. Have a formal policy to handle complaints
3. Have open lines of communication with
local community leaders
4. Communicate the library’s position on
intellectual freedom to the public
• Intellectual Freedom & Censorship, Collection
Development Training for Arizona Public Libraries

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Example of a Selection policy
http://www.archlou.org/wp-content/
uploads/2011/07/LibraryMediaGuidelines.pdf

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The Archdiocesan response to a
challenge? Pt. 1
http://www.archlou.org/wp-content/
uploads/2011/07/LibraryMediaGuidelines.pdf

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Archdiocesan process pt. 2
http://www.archlou.org/wp-content/
uploads/2011/07/LibraryMediaGuidelines.pdf

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Kentucky recommendations

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http://www.ala.org/aasl/advocacy/bwad
Happy Banned Websites
Awareness Day and 7 Myths

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Be Prepared!
FUTURE
CHALLENGE
S
AHEAD