Resources on Book Challenges and Intellectual Freedom
WebJunction
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24 May 2022
Across the United States, there are increased reports of book challenges from community members, which have led to very public and heated discussions. As public library leaders and staff consider how to prepare for similar local challenges, being proactive about developing and sharing policies and procedures can help to create clarity and establish expectations around responses to book challenges. In conjunction with the WebJunction webinar, Book Challenges and Intellectual Freedom: Proactive Planning for Public Libraries, the list of resources below can be used to support your library's efforts in being prepared for book challenges, and in upholding the principles of intellectual freedom in your library's services and collections.
Organizations
American Library Association, Office for Intellectual Freedom
- ALA Challenge Support
- United Against Book Bans
- See NEW United Against Book Bans Action Toolkit
- Intellectual Freedom
- Library Bill of Rights
- Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights
- Fight Censorship
- Banned and Challenged Books
- Library Privacy Checklists
- American Association of School Librarians, Defending Intellectual Freedom, LGBTQ+ Materials in School Libraries
- LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund
- Banned Book Week Ideas for Rural Libraries
National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC)
- Book Challenge Resource Center
- Youth Censorship Database
- Book Censorship Action Kit
- Responding to Book Challenges: A Handbook for Educators
- Defend LGBTQ Stories: A Resource
- Resources for Librarians
Other Organizations and Projects
- Cooperative Children's Book Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Steps to Take When Materials Are Challenged
- The Banned Books Project, Carnegie Mellon University, includes a Directory of Banned Books
- Book Ban Busters
- #FReadom including How to write, speak, support
- Get Ready, Stay Ready: Community Action Toolkit, for parents and caregivers
- ACLU's Right to Learn: Your Guide to Combatting Classroom Censorship
Resources from States
- Iowa Library Association, Intellectual Freedom Committee
- Missouri Library Association Statement on Intellectual Freedom
- Oklahoma Library Association, Intellectual Freedom Toolkit (pdf)
- Oregon Library Association, Intellectual Freedom Committee, Intellectual Freedom Toolkit
- South Carolina Center for Community Literacy, Intellectual Freedom Resources
- Texas Library Association, Texans for the Right to Read
- Utah Library Association, Intellectual Freedom Resources
- ACLU of Virginia, Advocacy Toolkit: Censorship and Banned Books (pdf)
- Washington Library Association, Intellectual Freedom Section and School Library Policies
Challenge Reporting
- ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, Challenge Reporting
- National Coalition Against Censorship, Report Censorship
- Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Report Censorship
- Library Journal’s Censorship Tips Hotline (can be anonymous)
Policies and Reconsideration Form Examples
- ALA Selection and Reconsideration Policy Toolkit
- Reconsideration form example, Mid-Hudson
- Washington State Policies > Collection Development > Reconsideration
- Colorado Library Consortium, Public Library Policy Collection
Webinars
- Book Challenges and Intellectual Freedom: Proactive Planning for Public Libraries, WebJunction, 2022
- Facing the Challenge: Intellectual Freedom in Libraries, PLA Town Hall, 2022
- Intellectual Freedom for Iowa Librarians, Iowa Library Association, Iowa Association of School Librarians, and the State Library of Iowa, 2022 (resource list and slides)
- Intellectual Freedom, Censorship, and Confidentiality, State Library of Iowa, 2017
- Foundations of Public Libraries: Principles of Intellectual Freedom, part of the State Library of Iowa’s Endorsement Program, 2021
- Challenges & Crises: Preparing Your Board of Trustees, United for Libraries, 2021
- Hooray for Freedom! Part One: Privacy, Confidentiality, and Intellectual Freedom in the Library, WebJunction, 2019 (See Library Policy Guidance: Challenge to Library Materials - pdf)
- Hooray for Freedom! Part Two: Developing Policies in Support of Ethical Practice, WebJunction, 2019
Other
- Book Battle in Tennessee: Librarians fight back against state’s “obscenity” bill, American Libraries, May 11, 2022
- Book Riot’s coverage of all things censorship
- Pen America, Banned in the USA: Rising School Book Bans Threaten Free Expression and Students’ First Amendment Rights