Challenging Times If you or someone you know hasn’t yet had a book challenge, give it time. As you are undoubtedly aware, there is a rising tide of book challenges across the country. Targets include specific titles and particular topics;… Read More ›
intellectual freedom
Librarians, Let’s Confer about Who We Are
This short volume of a post stands between bookends: #AASL21, which just occurred last week, and the upcoming #VAASL conference, which takes place next week. The word “confer” has been around for over five hundred years; its first known use… Read More ›
Concurrent Session @ #AASL21: Core Values in School Librarianship
There are many wonderful learning opportunities at an AASL national conference, but the true magic is the concurrent sessions. Practicing school librarians and researchers are the experts in our community and having opportunities to learn from the leaders in our… Read More ›
Stepping onto a Soapbox, Part Two: Challenges
In my last post, an acknowledged two-parter, I promised that I’d be back up on my soapbox again in the near future. Well, the future is now. I have a confession to make: I fangirl Jacqueline Woodson. If you haven’t… Read More ›
Preparing for Bumpy Roads Ahead
This weekend, while camping with my family, my husband decided to take a drive on a little-traveled “road.” I put “road” in quotes because for all real purposes, it was barely a path. With more rocks than smooth parts, it… Read More ›
You Have Always Been My Safe Home: The School Library
“The library is my safe harbor since I dare not go into the cafeteria alone, a whale surrounded by starving sharks.” — Lisa Fipps, Starfish This month being April, I had a veritable menagerie of subjects swirling about in my… Read More ›
Gearing up for the Challenge: Tips for Tackling Censorship
It’s not often that school librarians gravitate toward the gridiron for advice, but when it comes to combating censorship, iconic Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi had the perfect game plan: “Preparedness is the ultimate confidence builder.” From January-September 2019,… Read More ›
Explore the Freedom to Learn through the AASL Standards in a Sept/Oct Online Exclusive
Looking for more guidance on intellectual freedom and equitable access? Check out Jamie Gregory’s online exclusive article “The Freedom to Learn.” In the article Jamie states that “successful implementation of the National School Library Standards requires widespread application of principles… Read More ›
Explore Why Intellectual Freedom and Equitable Access Are More Important Than Ever in the Sept/Oct 2020 Issue
Intellectual freedom is a core value of the library profession. It is not an outdated, rarely thought about core value; it is a living tenet that allows for the promotion and protection of ideas from all viewpoints and access to… Read More ›
Intellectual Freedom Was Alive and Well at Midwinter in Seattle
The American Library Association (ALA) held its Midwinter Meeting in Seattle from January 24-29, 2019. As a member of the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee (and a retired school librarian), I’m providing information on the work of the committee as well… Read More ›