Up to the Challenge

Intellectual freedom is now—and will likely always be—a necessary topic for librarians to examine. If every book has its reader, most books will also have a challenger. In addition to considering banned books in schools and libraries, intellectual freedom issues are so closely tied to social justice that librarians often need both a foundational understanding of the topic as well as practical guides, and perhaps a standout example of a banned book, to navigate the often-muddy waters of intellectual freedom in libraries.

Foundations of Intellectual Freedom
By Emily J. M. Knox

This text is a practical introduction to intellectual freedom in librarianship. It provides a broad overview, including historical perspectives, key US case law and precedents, a presentation of opposing viewpoints, and an examination of various professional codes of ethics, among other essential topics. The work also incorporates timely social justice issues and their impact on intellectual freedom in various types of libraries. Though it is written for those new to the field, this resource is valuable for librarians at any stage of their career. ALA Neal-Schuman, 2022. 176 p. $55. PBK. 978-0-8389-3783-9.

Controversial Books in K–12 Classrooms and Libraries
By Randy Bobbitt

This informative and insightful read considers censorship throughout the decades, providing a historical analysis of book banning in school classrooms and libraries. Starting with challenges in the 1950s, Bobbitt offers perspectives from authors, critics, and civil liberties groups and explores the motivations and goals of the parties that are often involved when a book is disputed. In addition to presenting case studies, this volume delves into the topics that commonly spur challenges to books in schools. It’s a helpful guide that effectively puts the fight over so-called controversial material into context. Lexington Books, 2021. 226 p. $40. PBK. 978-1-4985-6974-3. (Also available as an ebook.)

Books under Fire: A Hit List of Banned and Challenged Children’s Books, 2nd edition
By Pat R. Scales

This edition contains a wealth of data for anyone dealing with challenged books, arming library staffers and educators with comprehensive information about frequently disputed titles. For each book entry in this reference guide, readers will find a summary, reviews, list of awards and accolades, issues and themes, useful talking points, additional resources, and read-alike titles. This updated volume, which includes challenged books published since 2015 and an array of timely subjects, is an asset to any reference collection. ALA Editions, 2021. 232 p. $55. PBK. 978-0-8389-4982-5.

Intellectual Freedom Stories from a Shifting Landscape
By Valerie Nye

In her introduction, Nye states that this book is “at the intersection of intellectual freedom and storytelling.” It’s an accurate description of this enlightening look at libraries across the US that have exercised intellectual freedom, from drag queen storytimes to overcoming censorship issues at prison libraries. By examining these stories, librarians of all types can gain a greater understanding of the programs and services that experience challenges and difficult conversations. Divided into sections ranging from policy to public events to issues of cultural sensitivity, this compilation highlights current issues surrounding intellectual freedom in a way that is both intriguing and educational. ALA Editions, 2020. 208 p. $45. 978-0-8389-4726-5. (Available as an ebook.)

Practicing Intellectual Freedom in Libraries
By Shannon M. Oltmann

Combining theoretical discussion, examples from real-world situations, and an analysis through the lens of community, this book serves librarians who are interested in gaining a new understanding of intellectual freedom or expanding their grasp of the subject. The book is divided into two sections; one focuses on theory and the other looks at concepts in action. This holistic text considers the complexities of intellectual freedom in libraries and is a must for any collection. Libraries Unlimited, 2019. 193 p. $55. PBK. 978-1-4408-6312-7. (Also available as an ebook.)

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You
By Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

It’s important for librarians to learn about new disputed books, and Stamped stands out as an exceptional and timely choice. Based on Kendi’s National Book Award–winning nonfiction title, Stamped from the Beginning, and modified for young readers by Reynolds, this text opens the conversation about the history of racism in America and its present-day ramifications. One of the most frequently challenged books of 2020, Stamped is an important part of a national conversation on race. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2020. 320 p. $9. 978-0-316-45369-1. (Also available as an ebook.)

Latest Library Links

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ALA has reopened its search for an executive director in partnership with executive search firm Isaacson, Miller. The search will be led by a steering committee comprising ALA member leaders. The selected candidate will succeed Interim Executive Director Leslie Burger, who was appointed in November 2023. “We are excited to embark on our search for a new executive director,” said ALA President Cindy Hohl. “This leadership position is critical as we navigate the years ahead. We seek candidates who have knowledge of the library community and the urgent issues we face.”

ALA Communications, Marketing, and Media Relations Office, Nov. 14
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Emily Weak writes: “Something I always hear from hiring managers is that they want to build a resilient, diverse workforce. Sometimes we say we want a resilient workforce, but what we mean is that we want staffers who are willing to go above and beyond, or to do more with less. These concepts are deeply entrenched in librarianship, but I think we’re beginning to see how they can cause problems. Instead of trying to hire people who will do more with less and who will thrive amid adversity, let’s think about resilience as an organizational feature.”

American Libraries column, Nov./Dec.
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Elisabeth B. White writes: “How can librarians ensure their instruction materials are as accessible as possible? One way is through Universal Design for Learning Guidelines, a set of best practices to improve teaching and learning and create inclusive and equitable educational experiences for all students. The guidelines include three principles that instructors must provide via multiple means: engagement (the ‘why’ of learning), representation (the ‘what’ of learning), and action and expression (the ‘how’ of learning). However, to create a truly equitable educational experience, school library workers need to consider accessibility principles as well.”

American Libraries feature, Nov./Dec.
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Elisa Shoenberger writes: “The comics I grew up reading were those in the newspapers, and they were called the funny pages for a reason. In time, I began exploring the wider world of comic books, covering a wide variety of genres from superhero comics to horror. But I do have a fondness for the seeming simplicity of one to four-panel comics in the newspapers and webcomics for humor. For this list, I’ve put together my tribute to the funny pages. Most of the comics are short form comics, but a few are longer narratives.”

Book Riot, Nov. 11
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Jay Peters writes: “Bluesky gained more than 700,000 new users in the last week and now has more than 14.5 million users total, Bluesky COO Rose Wang confirmed to The Verge. The ‘majority’ of the new users on the decentralized social network are from the US, Wang says. The app is currently the number two free social networking app in the US App Store, only trailing Meta’s Threads. Instagram-bootstrapped Threads, which recently crossed 275 million monthly users, is still significantly larger than Bluesky. But the independent platform has seen a lot of growth in recent weeks.”

The Verge, Nov. 11
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André Salkin writes: “A militant but peaceful protest movement is underway at Carlos Gilbert Elementary School in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It started with a student petition and escalated to administration hearings, picket lines, and sit-in demonstrations. The movement’s aim? More library time. At the head of the protests is sixth grader Rainier Long, 12, an avid reader who was outraged to learn Carlos Gilbert Elementary would be cutting library time in half—to 30 minutes a week—this year to make more time for technology education.”

Santa Fe New Mexican, Nov. 9
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Timothy Peters writes: “Today’s organizations are making a concerted effort to demonstrate greater inclusivity in their workplace practices, processes, and larger cultures. Research has shown diverse organizations are more innovative, adaptable, and regarded as better places to work by current and potential employees. Systems thinking frames the organization as a single, interconnected and interdependent system, and abandons many of the traditional organizational concepts which stand in the way of inclusion. Through its emphasis on holism, fostering productive relationships, multidirectional communication, and transparency, systems thinking creates an organizational culture that actively includes and empowers.”

Library Leadership and Management, Oct. 2