Q: I’ve seen several news stories recently in which districts have “restricted” some titles and students must get permission to check them out, and/or parents have the option of prohibiting their children from checking anything …
What IF … Forum
What IF is a question-and-answer forum for teachers, school and public librarians and others in the library and education fields. We all have questions about intellectual freedom and challenges to materials. The What IF forum is a place to turn to ask these questions before a challenge occurs, and to help think through what the principles of intellectual freedom look like in practice.
First time visiting this forum? We recommend the post Most Important Thing in Responding to Materials Challenge as a starting point, providing essential information in preparing for and responding to concerns and challenges.
Ask us a What IF question: ccbcinfo@education.wisc.edu
Updating the Request for Reconsideration Form
Q: Do you have suggestions for changes we might make to our public library’s reconsideration process to discourage challenges from people who haven’t even looked at the materials they are challenging firsthand? It’s so frustrating …
Requests to Purchase “Propaganda”
Q: My public library has received several requests to purchase books that are outside the scope of what we would typically collect. The request is for a subscription book series designed for the consumer (home) …
Self-Censorship
Q: With the threat of a challenges feeling constant, I’m finding it hard not to second-guess myself with selection decisions. The fear of a complaint, or of an administrator questioning my choices, is making it …
Request for Additional Selection Criteria
Q: Our selection criteria require we look at professional reviews, recommended lists, and other sources to select materials recommended for the ages/grades we serve in my high school library, with the goal of building a …
Policy and Procedure Best Practices in School Libraries
Q: Our school district recently went through a book challenge in the library and questions came up about ways we might strengthen our policies and procedures to make them clearer. We’re going to be reviewing, …
The Importance of Considering Content in Context
Q: I’m struggling with how to explain why words or a scene or images in a book taken out of context should not be used to discount the book as a whole. Can you offer …
Holding Administrators and School Boards Accountable
Q: I’m feeling disheartened and disturbed by what is happening when it comes to LGBTQ and other materials in schools that some people think of as “controversial.” I’ve heard of administrators deviating from policy, going so …
Questions about Diverse Materials
Q: I am getting questions that aren’t necessarily about specific books, but rather why we have so many diverse books, including books about/addressing race and racism, and LGBTQ materials, in our school library. Our community …
Talking about Intellectual Freedom with Community
Q: How can I talk with members of the community about the importance of intellectual freedom? That’s a great question. Intellectual freedom is foundational to the work we do in libraries and so talking about …