Category: Challenge Reporting
Press “Pause” and Prepare: The Trend Toward Book Challenges
Guest blog post by Martha Hickson. Although certain titles are trendy targets now, book challenges will be an issue for the long run. That’s because, ultimately, no book is the perfect fit for every reader, especially works that tackle difficult topics reflecting real-world circumstances. But one reader’s objection is not a license to restrict all other readers from the book.
What is a “Challenge”?
Intellectual freedom encompasses the freedom to hold, receive and disseminate ideas. Keep reading for more intellectual freedom definitions from ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom.
Should I Report Censorship?
The ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom (“OIF”) encourages everyone to report any and all instances of censorship and challenges to materials (including databases), programs, speakers, filtering and author visits. No matter is too insignificant. If we let instances of censorship slide by or decide to just take certain books off the shelf to avoid conflict or save time, we undermine the First Amendment and our own profession.
Sharing my Censorship Story: Five Years Later
My goal is to share my story and shake off a little of that remaining fear, and to encourage others in my position to keep moving forward in support of the intellectual freedom rights of all members of a school community. I have a right to tell my story, and you have a right to tell yours.
Share Your Censorship Story
OIF’s end-of-year initiative encourages you to share your censorship story! Information from challenge reports helps spread awareness and support libraries across the nation.
Conference Report: OIF @ #ALAAC19
A report on a couple of Intellectual Freedom panels at American Library Association’s Annual Conference
6 Answers to Twitter Questions About Reporting Censorship
Last month, the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom hosted its first Intellectual Freedom Chat (#ALAIFchat) on Twitter. One hour and 280 characters just wasn’t enough to answer all questions. Here are some answers to questions we didn’t get to, as well as some thoughtful discussions we hope will continue.
Middle Schoolers React to Censorship (A Story told in GIFs)
Witness the importance of reporting censorship by looking through the eyes of students who are just learning the realities of our society.
Report Censorship – Twitter Chat with OIF
Join ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) on Twitter to chat about the importance of reporting censorship and what librarians can do to support our professional values.
Report Censorship – Facebook Live with OIF
Join ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) in this engaging Facebook Live event to highlight the importance of reporting censorship and what librarians can do to support our professional values.