Before I share the professional development for November, I want to write to you about some banned book information that I have been reading. For the past couple of weeks, I have been thinking about censorship and book challenges because… Read More ›
censorship
Filtering: The Critical Difference between “All” and “Most”
One of the nine common beliefs set forth in the AASL Standards for the 21st-Century Learner is as follows: “Equitable access is a key component to education. All children deserve equitable access to books and reading, to information, and to… Read More ›
Censorship in Public School Libraries
In addition to being Hispanic Heritage Month and Library Card Sign-up Month, September is also when Banned Books Week begins. My co-librarian and I have already started gathering brown butcher paper and caution tape to assemble a display in the… Read More ›
Step 1: Celebrate Banned Books Week
Each September, librarians, teachers, and students celebrate their right to read and fight censorship by observing Banned Books Week (BBW). For 2016, BBW will occur from September 25 to October 1. Using the tagline, “Stand up for your right to… Read More ›
Intellectual Freedom News
Intellectual Freedom News Originally Posted by OIF Assistant Director, Kristin Pekoll on January 29, 2016 on ALA’s Intellectual Freedom Blog Important Reminder Report your challenges! OIF is working to finalize numbers for 2015 challenges and our annual list of most frequently… Read More ›
Confession: Sometimes Banned Books Week makes me cringe
If you’re conflicted too, this Q&A resource is for you. I support intellectual freedom and the freedom to read in my library, of course. But how can we begin to have the important conversations about intellectual freedom, censorship, and the… Read More ›
Banned Web Sites: Are Your Policies Up-To-Date?
In looking over an assignment to develop a library reconsideration policy that I gave to my graduate students, it occurred to me that an important information element is missing. Every reconsideration policy that I surveyed had the usual slots for… Read More ›
Are You Ready for Banned Books Week?
How will your library celebrate the freedom to read during Banned Books Week (BBW) September 27-October 3, 2015? Sponsored by 13 organizations, Banned Books Week has been observed annually since 1982. That’s 33 years of fighting censorship! According to American… Read More ›
10 Reasons to Check Out the New ALA Intellectual Freedom Manual
I have 4 editions of the ALA Intellectual Freedom Manual (blue, purple, gold, and white) on my professional book shelves, and without question, the most recent is most useful to school librarians. Although I used previous editions, the new 9th edition published… Read More ›