Author: Andrea Jamison
No More Prison Book Donations: PA’s War on Drugs
by Andrea Jamison Books Through Bars is a book donation program that provides prison inmates with access to literature and educational resources. Each month, the organization sends an estimated “2,100 […]
A War of the Roses: Should Libraries Take A Stance on 3-D Gun Printing?
Libraries provide public access to 3-D printers. Given the juxtaposition between our professional obligations and social responsibility, libraries should make their policies very clear with regard to printing 3-D guns.
More than a Coffee Shop: How Libraries Support Civil Liberties
by: Andrea Jamison Recently, Forbes posted (and subsequently removed) an opinion editorial that sent librarians and library supporters on a social media tirade. The now archived article, written by Panos Mourdoukoutas, […]
Intellectual Freedom: A Pathway to More Diversity!
The School Library Journal hosted its annual Day of Dialogue on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, at NYU’s Kimmel Center. The event attracted hundreds of librarians and book enthusiasts from across the country.
Aurora Public Library Poem Controversy: A Matter of Free Speech or Common Sense?
By Andrea Jamison The Aurora Public Library became the subject of intense scrutiny resulting from a decision to publicly display a controversial poem. The poem in question, “Hijab Means Jihad,” […]
Librarians Beware: Self-Censorship
Dubbed self-censoring, there is a growing concern that many librarians are purposefully omitting certain books and content from library collections due to personal bias opposed to professional judgment. According to an article in the School Library Journal, self-censorship is “a dirty secret that no one in the profession wants to talk about or admit practicing. Yet everyone knows some librarians bypass good books—those with literary merit or that fill a need in their collections.”
Where Do We Stand? Libraries and Self-Published Authors
It is not uncommon for writers to choose the route of self-publishing because the traditional publishing route is difficult, if not impossible, for some writers to enter. This is especially true if you happen to be a member of a marginalized group. Self-publishing is probably the only opportunity available to you.
The “Uncompromising” Compromise of Beaverton School District’s Book Ban
Beaverton School District is creating quite a buzz but for all the wrong reasons. Parents and teachers recently received notice that the school’s superintendent decided to ban Andrew Smith’s young adult novel, Stick, from the majority of its students. Read the letter from ALA and the Oregon Library Association.
Prison Book Bans: A Matter of Safety or Concern
Although many critics herald the book as being an outstanding contribution to criminal justice reform, New Jersey’s Department of Corrections determined that the book “posed a material danger to the safety of inmates and employees.”
Intellectual Freedom: Where Do We Draw the Line?
The American Library Association defines Intellectual freedom as “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.”