The Library’s Role in Defending Intellectual Freedom

Juvenile materials find themselves on the banned books list every year. School libraries are often fighting over a specific title, but public libraries see their share of challenges as well. Sometimes it is when a  new title such as Daddy’s Roommate (Willhoite) comes out. Then there are the classic “repeat offenders” such as Where the Sidewalk Ends (Silverstein), The Witches (Dahl), and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Twain).

As difficult as it may seem, library staff in both school and public libraries must stand firm in open collection development practices and in defending access for all.

The ALA (American Library Association) intellectual freedom policies are very clear about the fact that children deserve the same access to service and information as any other group using the library. Librarians must remember:

• It is up to the child and his or her parent to determine what material is appropriate for him or her.
• The librarian may not impose his or her own personal or moral views on people seeking information.
• Individual parents cannot speak for any children but their own.

As always, library staff must vehemently protect a reader’s right to read. ALA’s Intellectual Freedom Office was created to support libraries in this effort. You can find ALA’s Library Bill of Rights at http://www.ala.org/work/freedom/lbr.html

It is important for your library to have a standard procedure for handling complaints, including an available “Request for Reconsideration” form. This form allows you to take a step back from any confrontation and makes clear your intent to:

• Listen to the concerns of the person challenging an item
• Review the request in a fair and just manner
• Ensure the work in its entirety is being considered
• Encourage them to take time and think about the big picture/importance of a diversity of points of view within a library

The form itself would generally require the requester/challenger to fill in the following information:

• Book information (title, author, copyright –juvenile, YA or adult)
• Contact information of requester; whether they represent self or group
• To what in the material do you object? (Please be specific; cite pages and passages – use additional sheet if necessary) Allow much space here.
• Are your objections based on (check all that apply) religious principles, political beliefs, moral teachings, inaccuracies, other ____
• Did you read the entire work? _________ If not, what parts did you read?
• What part(s) of the work do you think are accurate and valuable?
• What do you feel would be the result of reading this material?
• What do you believe the theme of this work to be?
• Are you aware of judgments of this work by literary critics?
• For what age group would you recommend this work?
• What action are you requesting the library to take in regard to this work?
• If you are requesting withdrawal of the work, what work would you recommend in its place that would convey as valuable a picture and perspective of the subject treated?

Remember, while every community member has a right to be heard, they do not have a right to speak for the community.

Remember, too, that children deserve the same right to privacy that adults are afforded. Concerned parents should be encouraged to take an active and direct role in their child’s library use, the library should not be in a position to either tell parents what materials are currently out on a child’s card or monitor what children are accessing. There are, of course times when a parent needs to be involved, such as with lost or damaged materials.

Acceptable Internet use is fodder for a course in itself. Policies on Internet use should be set by school administrators or director and board of individual libraries or systems and followed by staff. If your library is currently developing or assessing your acceptable use policy, consider perusing Children and the Internet: Guidelines for Developing Public Library Policy, a 1998 American Library Association publication. This book not only provides background and general information but sample policies as well.

The Child Internet Protection Act (CIPA) legislation was passed in December 15, 2000 and signed into law on December 20, 2000. According to the ALA website, the Act places restrictions on the use of funding that is available through the Library Services and Technology Act, Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and on the Universal Service discount program known as E-rate. These restrictions take the form of requirements for Internet safety policies and technology, which blocks or filters certain material from being accessed through the Internet. The American Civil Liberties Union joined forces with the American Library Association and Multnomah County Public Library to immediately challenge the law, and it was permanently enjoined (prohibited) by a three-judge panel on May 30, 2002. There is currently an appeal pending in the Supreme Court.

You can read more about CIPA and how it affects libraries by visiting: http://www.ala.org/ala/washoff/WOissues/civilliberties/cipaweb/cipa.htm.
Library staff must not only be aware of efforts such as this, but also become active in enforcing freedom of information on all fronts as Multnomah County did with CIPA.

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