IST 605: Exploring Censorship in Literature and Libraries

No matter where you live, book-banning and book challenges is a hot- button issue.

Legislators are limiting access. Parents are limiting education.

What do we do when we have a library to protect and our duty is to not only allow access to materials, but promote it?

What do we do when censorship seeps into the walls of the library and we are held to rules and laws and even our own implicit bias when creating our catalog, displays, and curriculum?

This guide will illustrate censorship representation in libraries—from collection development, cataloguing, book challenges and policies, award winners, and legislation.

We will look at the difference between a book challenge and a book ban. There will be links to statistics and current legislation.

There are links to advocacy and reputable resources that show what books are being banned and challenged.

What power do we have as school librarians? How do we enforce and create policies that handle book challenges? Where can we find those policies?

What are NY library curriculum standards and how are they created?

All of those questions and more will have answers here. Welcome.

You are safe here.