Category: Intellectual Freedom Issues
School Librarians Can Protect Intellectual Freedom, an interview with April Dawkins
I felt fairly prepared to handle a materials challenge, but as I talk with other librarians, I see this is an area of great concern.
The Future of Intellectual Freedom: IFLA, FAIFE Seek Comment, Article Proposals
The future of intellectual freedom is ours to decide. To commemorate Human Rights Day, share your views on the IFLA Statement on Libraries and Intellectual Freedom in IFLA-FAIFE’s survey by January 15th. Then, develop your ideas further with an article abstract for the 2021 special issue of IFLA Journal on intellectual freedom due March 1st.
Remember to Report Censorship for 2020!
If there was any instance this year in which you asked yourself, “Is this censorship?” then you should report it to the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom by New Years Eve. If it made your library spidey senses tingle, it is probably worth a report. Read on for more information on what censorship looked like in 2020.
FTRF Scholarship Opportunity
The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF), is excited to announce a scholarship for the Spring 2021 seminar, Intellectual Freedom and Young Adults, offered through San Jose State University School of Information (SJSU iSchool).
Hulu Shushes “Sunny”
Hulu is a streaming platform where you can choose the content you want to watch. And with a recent upgrade, it’s now a platform that chooses the content you really shouldn’t watch.
Conspiracy Theories and Intellectual Freedom
Ryan Dowd is great. He really is – his positive attitude and commitment to empathy for all human beings is something the world needs, especially in this current moment. But, I have to remind myself, Ryan Dowd is not a librarian.
Libraries don’t hide controversial material, especially during a national movement
It’s frustrating to see a Library Trustee – presumably someone who loves libraries – making these statements because they seem so antithetical to what libraries do. It’s not entirely clear what he wants as a solution, but at the very least it seems like he’s asking the library to ignore current events and to hide collections on controversial subjects. I’m also saddened by the implication that by including something on the library website the library is “promoting” it. Librarians buy and check out materials every day we disagree with; that’s our job.
Reflections on the O’Hanlon Mural
There is a mural at the University of Kentucky that was done in 1934 by Ann Rice O’Hanlon. This mural depicts both Black people and Native American people in derogatory, racist ways including slavery. In 2017, the university commissioned a response piece by Black artist Karyn Olivier. The two pieces are now intertwined, yet the university wants to remove the O’Hanlon piece in the wake of George Floyd’s murder.
Apostasy!
The Republican Right humiliated and punished all but its true believers, in a purge that left it less responsive to a changing world, and undercut broad support. Is the Left repeating the play?
Every Canceller Its Book, and Every Book Its Canceller
Harper’s Magazine recently ran an open letter calling for the reestablishment of open debate in this culture war being fought on the front lines of social media. It was refreshing to learn of a written rebuttal to this open letter, but the cause would benefit more if you didn’t read it at all.