What is a Banned Book? Who Decides? Adapted from presentation of Barbara M. Jones Director, Office for Intellectual Freedom American Library Association, Chicago

What is the Office for Intellectual Freedom? A unit of the American Library Association, the largest, oldest and most prestigious in the world “The object of the American Library Association shall be to promote library service and librarianship.” The stated mission is, “To provide leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.” Mission – The ALA Constitution states the purpose of ALA as,

Libraries Promote Intellectual Freedom by…

…teaching children how to read and think critically

…keeping teens interested in learning

…supporting immigrants and refugees

…helping job seekers in a bad economy

… defending the right to open inquiry Right to privacy Confidentiality Access without interference

What Does OIF Do? TEACH the general public and librarians about: — the freedom to read — the First Amendment — their privacy rights in a digital age — how to create civic dialogue

What Does OIF Do? DEFEND THE FREEDOM TO READ — through the courts in amicus briefs — through advocacy campaigns — through working with public officials — at the local, state, and national levels; — through partnerships

Coalitions (cont’d) Newseum in Washington, DC Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Open Society Foundations Washington Office of ALA

The Office for Intellectual Freedom Activities Choose Privacy Week: First week in May Banned Books Week: Last week of September Constitution Day: every September, federally mandated Coalitions: American Civil Liberties Union Association of American Publishers Authors’ Guild National Council of Teachers of English Electronic Frontier Foundation American Booksellers’ Foundation for Freedom of Expression

Activities within OIF Webinars Speaking engagements in the U.S. and abroad Freedom to Read Foundation Merritt Fund Phone assistance Publications: Intellectual Freedom Manual; Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom; others Lawyers for Libraries

Banned Books Week: Last week in September Readout of banned books at Bughouse Square, across from the Newberry Library (Chicago) 2010 in several countries and states—thanks to the Krug Fund Products: Guide; Short List; t-shirts Nationwide support; huge press event “Think for yourself and let others do the same”

What is a Banned Book? Library material, in any type of library, that: — has been challenged in an oral or written complaint; — attacked publicly and recommended for further action; — removed from the library collection.

What Gets Banned? Witchcraft or supernatural topics — Harry Potter — Vampires Sex —”obscenity” a misused term — homosexuality Politics — in other countries a bigger problem Language — the “n” word; the “f” word

Who decides? School boards School administration Public library boards Public library administration Sometimes librarians with legitimate fears Pressure groups—across the political spectrum

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Reasons: offensive language racism unsuited to age group

Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer Reasons: religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group

The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey

Current Status of Censorship in the U.S. Attention moving toward Internet, video games, social networks such as Facebook Attention moving toward “child safety”, as busy parents depend on ratings systems OIF currently working on a variety of cases “Educate, don’t censor”

Alternatives Booklist (an ALA publication) School librarians and children’s librarians in public libraries

How to Get Involved Discuss books with your children; don’t leave it to a ratings system. Support school and public libraries—serve on the board and vote for libraries! Join the Freedom to Read Foundation. Follow OIF on Facebook and You Tube.

Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us. – Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas.