Category: Intellectual Freedom Issues
Banned Books Week 2023: Programs, Day of Action, and More
Libraries, schools, bookstores, and groups around the world will be calling attention to censorship – and ways to fight it – October 1 – 7, 2023. The American Library Association […]
Prejudicial Book Rating Systems Are a Form of Censorship
By Deborah Caldwell-Stone, Joyce, McIntosh, and Eric Stroshane Recently, there have been numerous efforts to require the adoption of content rating systems for books provided to children and young adult […]
Prioritizing Intellectual Freedom & Privacy: Your Itinerary for ALA Annual 2023
Whether you’re a seasoned advocate or new to ALA Annual, we encourage you to prioritize the many events focusing on intellectual freedom and library privacy. In an era marked by rising censorship and attempts to limit intellectual freedom, it’s more crucial than ever for library workers to champion these fundamental principles of a healthy democracy.
Viewing Anime Censorship at Your Library
This post provides a historical overview of anime censorship in North America before highlighting notable examples of anime censorship to include in library programming activities. Series mentioned include Cardcaptors, Robotech, Sailor Moon, Yu-Gi-Oh, and more!
Musk’s Twitter Deal: A Win for Intellectual Freedom?
Elon Musk’s deal to buy Twitter might be on the rocks, but if it does eventually go through, will he change the platform for the better? What’s his stance on intellectual freedom? Does he actually care about free speech?
The Intersection of Roe v. Wade and Intellectual Freedom
Riley points out the laws in many states requiring people seeking abortion to get “counseling” prior to the procedure is a direct violation of the patient’s and doctor’s intellectual freedom. These laws, often referred to as “informed consent,” focus disproportionately on the negative and rare side effects of abortion while ignoring the positive effects of the procedure and the negative effects of continuing the pregnancy.
A Conversation about Book Challenges
The Cranston Public Library in Cranston, RI hosts a weekly podcast titled Down Time with Cranston Public Library where they talk with librarians, library workers and community members about a variety of topics. On February 15th, 2022 they spoke with Martin Garnar, director of the Amherst College Library, and Marianne Mirando, the Librarian from Westerly High School in Westerly, RI to talk about the recent increase in book challenges across the country. They discussed what it means for a book to be challenged in a school or public library and what you can do to protect intellectual freedom in your community. This post is an excerpt from their conversation.
Talking about Manga Censorship with TOKYOPOP
Happy 25th birthday TOKYOPOP! For a quarter of a century TOKYOPOP has been bringing manga to North American readers, and so is no stranger to intellectual freedom issues around manga. But, really, what do manga publishers think about manga censorship? In February 2022, I had the chance to ask that and many more questions to one of the most notable publishers of manga in North America! So, let us meet Kae Winters and hear what TOKYOPOP has to say.
The Stakeholders of Status Quo
As coordinated censorship attempts spread across the country, understanding who and what these conservative organizations represent is an important piece toward preventing further threats to intellectual freedom in the U.S.
Addressing Challenges to Books by Problematic Authors Q&A – A Summary
A common concern among librarians and other information professionals is how to handle materials written by individuals wrapped up in some type of controversy, whether that be political statements they have made publicly, crimes or misconduct that they have been accused of, or where they have donated or invested their money. This post will summarize a Q&A that provides guidance selecting, weeding and addressing challenges to these types of materials.