Courtney L. Lewis
Issues surrounding censorship, print and electronic, reflect tensions in society. Librarians and booksellers are dedicated to maintaining access to resources for their community. Here are a few sources that might prove helpful to people looking to learn more about this topic.
Every year concerned parents demand the removal of hundreds of "inappropriate" texts from American classrooms and libraries. Are they strangling free speech -- or just trying to protect our kids?
The American Library Association, which tracks book challenges and banning in libraries across the country each year, has put together an excellent timeline giving an overview of this phenomenon.
Each year in the fall, libraries, booksellers, and publishers combine efforts to promote the importance of intellectual freedom and combating censorship. This website has a wealth of information that would prove helpful to researchers.
A terrific five minute video by Penguin Publishing starring an incredible line up of young adult authors (Jackqueline Woodson, Sarah Dessen, M.T. Anderson, Ellen Hopkins, John Green, and many others). GREAT library story in here!
Efforts to ban books in schools have shifted subjects and tactics, with the efforts of single parents now being replaced by organizations.
Famous authors like Judy Blume and Robert Cormier discuss their feelings toward censorship in this discussion sponsored by publisher Random House.
From the Texas ACLU, this website gives an excellent overview of arguments against the banning of books from schools.
The Child Internet Protection Act requires that schools receiving federal funding from E-rate block inappropriate websites. But, as the D.O.E’s Karen Cator explains, that shouldn’t stop teachers from sharing rich educational resources with their students.
