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  1. Home
  2. What IF ... Forum

What IF … Forum

Most Important Thing in Responding to Materials Concern or Challenge

Posted on October 26, 2021

Q: It seems like I’m hearing about challenges happening in many places right now. I’m trying to make sure we’re prepared in case it happens here. What do you think is the most important thing …

Posted in What IF ... ForumTagged Administrators and Library/School Boards, Materials Concerns/Challenges, Policies and Procedures, Public Libraries, School Libraries

Weeding or Censorship?

Posted on March 17, 2021

Q: Why is it “censorship” if my library board removes a book that is challenged, and “weeding” if a staff member removes a book with problematic content?  Even though I know the difference, I’m genuinely …

Posted in What IF ... ForumTagged Collection Development, Policies and Procedures, Public Libraries, School Libraries

Books with Racist Images

Posted on March 5, 2021

Q: What does the recent announcement from Seuss Enterprises that six Dr. Seuss books will no longer be published because of racist images mean for my library? We don’t have all of the books but …

Posted in What IF ... ForumTagged Classrooms/Curriculum, Collection Development, Policies and Procedures, Public Libraries, School Libraries

Concern about Graphic Novels

Posted on June 12, 2020

Q:  I continue to run into resistance from both parents and some colleagues at my school about graphic novels. Just the phrase “graphic novel” makes some adults pale, and that’s before they’ve even cracked a …

Posted in What IF ... ForumTagged Collection Development, Policies and Procedures, Public Libraries, School Libraries

Complainant and Review Committee Information and Roles

Posted on March 29, 2020

Q: Do I send school policies and reviews of a book to a complainant, or just to the review committee? And how do I make sure the Review Committee understands its role? Those are great questions. …

Posted in What IF ... ForumTagged Classrooms/Curriculum, Materials Concerns/Challenges, Policies and Procedures, Public Libraries, School Libraries

Preparing in Advance for a Complaint

Posted on March 29, 2020

Q: Are there some standard practices I should follow in order to be prepared for a book complaint? (April 2024 update: We’ve provided a follow-up response to this question that offers more information, including slide decks …

Posted in What IF ... ForumTagged Classrooms/Curriculum, Communication and Advocacy, Materials Concerns/Challenges, Policies and Procedures, Public Libraries, School Libraries

How Can I Make Sure Selection Decisions Protect Children

Posted on March 27, 2020

Q: I struggle with how to uphold intellectual freedom but still protect the students within specific age-groups at the school where I work. How much is too much when it comes to content? Where do I …

Posted in What IF ... ForumTagged Censorship and Self-Censorship, Collection Development, Policies and Procedures, School Libraries

Struggle with Materials That Don’t Align with Personal Beliefs

Posted on March 27, 2020

Q: I struggle with selecting materials for our school library that are not compatible with my personal beliefs. I realize that the ALA Code of Ethics VII states that we “must distinguish between our personal …

Posted in What IF ... ForumTagged Censorship and Self-Censorship, Collection Development, Policies and Procedures, School Libraries

Director Suggests Moving Children’s Book to Adult Collection

Posted on March 27, 2020

Q: The director of the public library where I work has been saying informally that he thinks picture books with gay/lesbian/transgender characters belong in the adult section of the library. Because he hasn’t told me I …

Posted in What IF ... ForumTagged Policies and Procedures, Public Libraries

Is a Selection Policy that Outlines “Acceptable” and “Unacceptable” Topics Promoting Censorship?

Posted on March 27, 2020

Q: My administrator wants to revise the policy for library selection and classroom reading choices in the middle school where I am a library media specialist. He is suggesting that we come up with very …

Posted in What IF ... ForumTagged Censorship and Self-Censorship, Classrooms/Curriculum, Collection Development, Policies and Procedures, School Libraries
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