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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.

Ask us a What IF question: ccbcinfo@education.wisc.edu

Talking to Students about “Bad” Language in Books

Posted on August 4, 2011

Q: I’m not sure how to respond when students point out swear words in books. I’m not sure myself why authors put some words in children’s novels. I struggle with what to say when this …

Posted in What IF ... ForumTagged school libraries

LGBTQ Materials in Small Public Library

Posted on September 27, 2010

Q: I work in a small public library. I feel that I should be including books with gay, lesbian and transgender content in our collection, but I’m afraid of the possible repercussions. I’m not certain the …

Posted in What IF ... ForumTagged policies, public libraries

Educating Library Aides and Teachers

Posted on May 10, 2010

Q: I haven’t done an adequate job preparing my aide and classroom teachers in readers’ advisory during checkout time.  How should I start addressing not only this but intellectual freedom issues? What a great question. …

Posted in What IF ... ForumTagged advocacy, policies, school libraries

LGBTQ Materials in Elementary Libraries

Posted on April 20, 2010

Q: I live and work in a conservative community. I’m scared to collect books about transgender children or with gay- and lesbian-parents for my elementary school library. I’m afraid at the least the principal will be upset, …

Posted in What IF ... ForumTagged policies, school libraries

Supporting a Colleague Facing a Challenge

Posted on March 21, 2010

Q: Recently there was a book challenge at the library in a neighboring community. I thought often about contacting the librarian in the middle of it all but didn’t know if it would be welcome. …

Posted in What IF ... ForumTagged classrooms, public libraries, school libraries

Suspending Borrowing Privileges

Posted on March 4, 2010

Q: What do you think about the practice of prohibiting students from checking out books if they have lost or seriously overdue library materials? My school has a two-strikes-and-you’re out policy, after which students can still …

Posted in What IF ... ForumTagged policies, school libraries

Religious-Themed Fiction in Public School Libraries

Posted on March 5, 2009

Q: Are there any concerns to consider or have there been any challenges related to bringing religious-themed fiction books into a public school library? “Religious-themed” fiction that is published with the intent of promoting specific …

Posted in What IF ... ForumTagged classrooms, school libraries

Requests to “Level” the Collection

Posted on December 5, 2008

Q: I’m feeling pressure to “level” the collection at my K-5 school so teachers can easily direct their students to books at their reading level. I feel strongly that this goes against what I believe …

Posted in What IF ... ForumTagged classrooms, school libraries

Should I Contact Author of a Challenged Book

Posted on February 5, 2008

Q: Recently, we had a challenge to a book, and a colleague suggested that I contact the author. I ended up running out of time and never did it, and the outcome was fine (the book …

Posted in What IF ... ForumTagged classrooms, public libraries, school libraries

How Long Does a Banned Book Stay Banned?

Posted on November 10, 2007

Q: When a book is removed from the collection during the reconsideration process, how long do banned resources remain banished? Your question addresses two separate situations: 1) What happens to the material during the reconsideration process? …

Posted in What IF ... ForumTagged classrooms, policies, school libraries
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