Lawn Boy and Gender Queer: 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.
Can You Ban an E-Book?
As many prisons forgo physical materials altogether and embrace e-reader and tablet programs, it is unclear what effect these changes will have on an incarcerated person’s right to read. Can you ban an e-book? What does censorship look like in digital form?
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.
Fall IFRT All Membership Gathering
The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) invites all current members to attend our fall All Member Gathering of IFRT on Friday, October 22nd, 2021 from 4pm-5pm (Central Time). This virtual gathering will feature Banned Books Week show and tell, trivia, and time to chat and meet other IFRT members.
Intellectual Freedom News 10/08/2021
The LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund is devoted to the support, maintenance, and welfare of librarians who are denied employment rights because of discrimination or because of their defense of intellectual freedom.
FCC to Open Second Application Window for Emergency Connectivity Fund
In December 2020, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act which distributed $7 billion to increase broadband access in the United States. $3.2 billion was apportioned to create the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Additionally, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) detailed provisions of an Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) which included over $7.1 billion to support remote learning in schools and libraries. The ECF program focuses on schools and libraries, helping fund costs of laptops, tablets, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, and other connectivity equipment. These funds are available to a wide range of libraries, including public, school, tribal, academic, research, and private libraries, in addition to library consortiums.
A Note from Jerry Craft
In October 2021, a local petition to ban books by Newbery Medal-winning author Jerry Craft resulted in the postponement of his appearance in front of a Texas school district. Dissenters claim the book teaches critical race theory and therefore should not be taught in schools. The following is Craft’s response to the petition.
Celebrating Banned Authors During Hispanic Heritage Month
National Hispanic American Heritage Month takes place each year from September 15-October 15. Initially started in 1968 by President Lyndon B. Johnson as Hispanic Heritage Week, it was expanded to […]
IFRT Member Spotlight – Sarah Burchart
This month we would like to highlight IFRT Member Sarah Burchart.
Intellectual Freedom Censorship After Banned Books Week
Examining the top 10 challenged books of 2020 during Banned Books Week reveals deeper and more widespread attempts to limit intellectual freedom.