Intellectual Freedom: You don’t have to like it Michael Giller

1. Intellectual Freedom: You don’t have to like it Michael Giller SC Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities 2012 SCASL Conference

2. What is Intellectual Freedom? Intellectual freedom is the right of every individual to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction. It provides for free access to all expressions of ideas through which any and all sides of a question, cause or movement may be explored. From ALA’s OIF

3. Intellectual Freedom Is the basis of our democratic system Allows individuals to self-govern and be well informed Is the basis of our democratic system Encompasses the freedom to hold, receive and disseminate ideas Protects the free flow of ideas Is based on ideas that a healthy society can exchange ideas without interference from government, politics, and social influences From ALA’s OIF

4. How does intellectual freedom connect to libraries?

5. ALA’s Library Bill of Rights Every Library Bill of Right relates toIntellectual Freedom and Open Access

6. I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.

7. II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

8. III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.

9. IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.

10. V. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridgedbecause of origin, age, background, or views.

11. VI. Libraries that make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.

12. Keep your intellectual freedom off of my labels!AALS’s Position on Labeling

13. School librarians are under pressure to label and arrange library materials by reading level

14. The affect of labels • Student browsing and reading habits are altered by labels • Browsing and reading habits become a search for books that must be read for tests, points or rewards • Reading levels on spine labels allows peers to see the reading levels of others; threatens confidentiality; only parents, teachers, and school librarians should know the reading levels of students

15. The affect of labels • Non-standard shelving practices make it difficult for library staff and patrons to locate items; students may have no understanding of how other school and public libraries arrange information and will affect future book selection in other libraries • School library collections are safe places for children to explore interests without restrictions, not merely extensions of classroom book collections • A minor’s right to access information freely and unrestricted is the long held position of the American Library Association (ALA) and the American Association of School Librarians (AASL)

16. Censorship: the suppression of ideas and information that certain persons—individuals, groups, or government officials – find objectionable

17. the censor wants to pre-judge materials for everyone

18. What is self-censorship?

19. Self-censorship is not selecting items for the library collection that would fill a need or has literary merit because of fear of the reaction by others (parents, teachers, principals)

20. “if you reject a book just because of its subject matter or if you think that it would cause you some problems, then that’s self-censorship” “And that’s going against professional ethics.” – Pat Scales, ALA’s OIFA Dirty Little Secret: Self-Censorshipby Debra Whelan, School Library Journal2/1/2009

21. Some Statistics from an SLJ Survey of 655 school librarians: 70% won’t buy certain controversial titles because they fear how parents will respond 29% fear a backlash from administration 25% fear a backlash from students 23% personal objections A Dirty Little Secret: Self-Censorshipby Debra Whelan, School Library Journal2/1/2009

22. Top Reasons why librarians steer away from books: 87% state sexual content is #1 reason why 61% objectionable language comes in 2nd 51% violence 47% homosexual themes 24% racism 16% religion A Dirty Little Secret: Self-Censorshipby Debra Whelan, School Library Journal2/1/2009

23. Gay themed books are often not selected People have a narrow viewpoint of what type of sexuality is allowed to exist Gay characters are lumped into the genre of sex A Dirty Little Secret: Self-Censorshipby Debra Whelan, School Library Journal2/1/2009

24. Researches asked media specialists if most popular GBLT pub between 1999-2005 were in the collection including Rainbow Boys, Geography Club, Boy meets Boy – often the answer is no.

25. Why do librarians self-censor? Fear of retaliation is real Fear of losing one’s job is real while defending the freedom to read

26. Another reason librarians self-censor Mixed messages about age-appropriateness Example: Ellen Wittlinger’s Sandpiper – about a girl that learns that performing oral sex is a sure way to get a boyfriend but she also learns that this behavior leads to problems. Booklist says grades 8-12; Publishers Weekly ages 12+; SLJ grades 9+; what does a librarian for 7th and 8th graders do? Example: Lois Lowry’s The Giver-- In a world with no poverty, no crime, no sickness and no unemployment, and where every family is happy, 12-year-old Jonas is chosen to be the community's Receiver of Memories. Publisher’s Weekly ages 10+; SLJ grades 6-9; Kirkus Reviews 12+. If you have an AR program and label books by reading level, where does this fit in?

27. Applying IF to my library and services Remember good service! This is a service-oriented profession. School libraries are the first and often only libraries kids have access to Maintain balance in the collection. Know your collection! Make sure you have a collection development policy that states all viewpoints and ideas should be represented for academic excellence Follow your collection development policy Don’t rely on companies to do everything for you. You are the librarian in charge (slide LIC) Know your students and their needs Know your teachers Build alliances with faculty that are helpful Stay active in the school community Have a committee on standby to deal with challenges Build administrative support

28. Book Censorship is going on everywhere

29. Parents are the #1 initiator

30. Schools are the #1 place

31. Challenges to materials Every librarian will likely experience a challenge Try to diffuse it directly with the challenger before a formal complaint Policy Have a written collection development policy Have a reconsideration of library materials policy If necessary, conduct a Challenge Hearing Hearings should be public, have a set length of time, policies should be distributed for people in attendance to read, people wishing to speak should sign in, ideally the decisions should be reached later and this is a time to hear all sides only

32. Terminology associated with challenges: Expression of Concern. An inquiry that has judgmental overtones. Oral Complaint. An oral challenge to the presence and/or appropriateness of the material in question. Written Complaint. A formal, written complaint filed with the institution (library, school, etc.), challenging the presence and/or appropriateness of specific material. Public Attack. A publicly disseminated statement challenging the value of the material, presented to the media and/or others outside the institutional organization in order to gain public support for further action. Censorship. A change in the access status of material, based on the content of the work and made by a governing authority or its representatives. Such changes include exclusion, restriction, removal, or age/grade level changes.

33. Dealing with challenges Report the challenge to ALA’s Office of Intellectual Freedom Share with colleagues Don’t be personally or professionally embarrassed or ashamed

34. The censor Why do they censor? family values, religion, political views, minority rights Sexual references, profanity, homosexual themes, violence, and racism are the most common reasons Complains to principal, school board, media Under the guise of “protecting children”

35. Opposing the censor: have a policy, a procedure, and a PR mechanism in place Others that may be allies… Use community leaders Local media whose editorial support can help Other librarians and associations (ACLU) The publisher Governing board (school/library board) Legal counsel State IF committees ALA’s OIF (office of intellectual freedom)

36. What can SCASL’s IFC do for me? When assistance is formally requested, serves as support and source of information for media specialists and/or districts dealing with an intellectual freedom issues. Offer resources that help with collection development policies, materials reconsideration forms, Banned Books Week, and current issues regarding intellectual freedom. Offer a support network of professionals that have faced comparable situations and the stress and work involved in resolving challenges to materials.

37. Essential Preparation from ALA’s OIF Dealing with Concerns about Library Resources Checklist and Ideas for Library Staff Working with Community Leaders Kids and Libraries: What You Should Know The Censor: Motives and Tactics Workbook for Selection Policy Writing Guidelines and Consideration for Developing a Public Library Internet Use Policy Developing a Confidentiality Policy Support for those affected by defending IF: LeRoy C Merritt is a fund created to help pay for fees/expenses for people involved in 1st amendment clashes.

38. Support for Dealing with Challenges Conducting a Challenge Hearing Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges Sample Request for Reconsideration of Library Resources Support for those affected by defending IF: LeRoy C Merritt is a fund created to help pay for fees/expenses for people involved in 1st amendment clashes.

39. Intellectual Freedom Resouces American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom (OIF) Intellectual Freedom and Censorship Q&A AASLs Position Statement on Labeling Books with Reading Levels Censorship in Schools A Dirty Little Secret: Self Censorship in Libraries