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 …
Censorship and Self-Censorship
Want to Avoid 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 …
How Can I Make Sure Selection Decisions Protect Children
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 …
Struggle with Materials That Don’t Align with Personal Beliefs
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 …
Is a Selection Policy that Outlines “Acceptable” and “Unacceptable” Topics Promoting Censorship?
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 …
Censorship vs. Selection in the Curriculum
Q: The English department at my high school has been discussing removing several titles from the summer reading list and curriculum and replacing them with less controversial novels. Is there anything that can be done …
LGBTQ Materials in Elementary Libraries
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, …
Covering Words or Images (Expurgation)
Q: My principal and I had a great discussion about what to do when a book is challenged but when I mentioned that a parent might be upset if a book contains a swear word, …
Principles v. Budget or Job Security
Q: What if your principal has made clear your budget is tied to not getting any complaints about library materials? I’m all for selection instead of censorship, but should you stand on principle if it means …