Thinking about Intellectual Freedom

Overview	Professional Statements	Policies and Procedures	Self-Censorship	Recommended Books

Overview

Definitions (from the American Library Association)

Intellectual Freedom and Censorship Q-and-A (from the American Library Association)

Intellectual Freedom Checklist: things to know and have on hand (from the New York Library Association)

It's about Conversation by Pat Scales (from Knowledge Quest v. 36, n. 2,

published by the American Association of School Librarians of the American Library Association)

Censorship: Don't Let It Become an Issue in Your Schools

(from the National Council of Teachers of English)

Reading, Writing, and Censorship by Barbara Miner (Rethinking Schools, Spring, 1998)

Back to the top

Selected Professional Statements

From the American Library Association Intellectual Freedom Statements and Policies

Library Bill of Rights and its Interpretations

Freedom to Read Statement

From selected Educational Organizations:

International Reading Association: Resolution on the Selection of Reading Materials

National Council for the Social Studies: Academic Freedom and the Social Studies Teacher

National Council of Teachers of English: Students' Right to Read

Wisconsin State Reading Association: Position Statement on Intellectual and Academic Freedom

Back to the top

Policies and Procedures: Selected Guidelines

One of the strongest defenses against censorship is having board-approved (school board, library board) policies and procedures in place. Ideally these provide broad guidance for librarians and teachers in choosing materials based on the purpose of the collection or the goals of the curriculum, and outline specific steps to be followed in case of a complaint. Models that embrace these ideals include:

Public Libraries: Collection Development Policies (Arizona State Libraries)

School Libraries: Workbook for Selection Policy Writing (American Library Association)

Classrooms:

Guidelines for Selection of Materials in the English/Language Arts Program

(National Council of Teachers of English)

How to Write a Rationale (SLATE Starter Sheet, National Council of Teachers of English)

Students Right to Read (National Council of Teachers of English): includes sample

" Citizen's Request for Reconsideration of a Work"

Become familiar with your own intstitution's policies and procedures, including the steps that should be followed in case of a challenge to materials.

Back to the top

Self-Censorship

Among the biggest challenges librarians and teachers may face in choosing books or other materials for a library collection or for classroom use are their own fears and biases. Self-censorship—when a book or other item isn't purchased or made available due to fears of complaints or other repercussions, or due to personal dislike of the message or content of a work--is something that is difficult to acknowledge and to talk about. But it's important that librarians and teachers do acknowledge it, and do begin talking to one another about their struggles and concerns. These are critical first steps to overcoming this silent form of censorship.

Self-Censorship Checklist (New York Library Association)

NCTE Statement on Censorship and Professional Guidelines

(National Council of Teachers of English)

Not Censorship but Selection by Lester Asheim (American Library Association)

The Effects of Censorship on Experienced High School English Teachers by Jane Agee

(Center on English Learning and Achievement)

Moving toward a Method to Test for Self-Censorship by School Library Media Specialists

(American Association of School Librarians)

A Dirty Little Secret: Self-Censorship Is Rampant and Lethal by Deborah Lau Whelan

(School Library Journal, February 2009)

The Problem of Self-Censorship (School Library Media Activities Monthly, November 2010)

Self-Censorship: Let's Talk about It (CCBC)

Back to the top

Recommended Books

At the Schoolhouse Gate: Lessons in Intellectual Freedom. Gloria Pipkin and ReLeah Cossett Lent. Heinemann, 2002.

Banned Books Resource Guide. Chicago, IL: American Library Association, various years.

Censorship and Selection: Issues and Answers for Schools, 3rd ed . Henry Reichman. Chicago: American Library Association, 2001.
Ensuring Intellectual Freedom and Access to Information in the School Library Media Program. Helen Adams. Libraries Unlimited, 2008.

Intellectual Freedom Manual . 7th ed. Chicago: American Library Association, 2005.
Libraries, Access and Intellectual Freedom: Developing Policies for Public an Academic Libraries. Barbara Jones. American Library Association, 1999.
The New Inquisition: Understanding and Managing Intellectual Freedom Challenges. James LaRue. Libraries Unlimited, 2007.
Protecting Intellectual Freedom in Your School Library: Scenarios from the Front Lines. Pat Scales. American Library Association, 2009.

Protecting the Right to Read: A How-to-do it Manual for School and Public Librarians . Ann K. Symons and Charles Harmon. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc., 1995.

School Censorship in the 21 st Century: A Guide for Teachers and School Library Media Specialists. John S. Simmons and Eliza T. Dresang. Newark, DE: International Reading Association, 2001.

Back to the top