Censorship Colleen Adam, Laura McCoy, Laura Donhauser-Wymer

Position Statement It is the job of the Library Media Specialist (LMS) to protect the intellectual freedom of his/her students’. It is the job of the Library Media Specialist (LMS) to protect the intellectual freedom of his/her students’. Applicable Principles of The American Association of School Librarian’s Information Access and Delivery Principles of School Library Media Programs (AASL, 1998) Applicable Principles of The American Association of School Librarian’s Information Access and Delivery Principles of School Library Media Programs (AASL, 1998) Principle 1: The LMS “provides intellectual access to information and ideas for learning.” Principle 1: The LMS “provides intellectual access to information and ideas for learning.” Principle 2: The LMS “provides physical access to information and resources for learning.” Principle 2: The LMS “provides physical access to information and resources for learning.” Principle 4: The “library media program requires flexible and equitable access to information, ideas, and resources for learning.” Principle 4: The “library media program requires flexible and equitable access to information, ideas, and resources for learning.” Principle 6: The “library media program is founded on a commitment to the right of intellectual freedom. Principle 6: The “library media program is founded on a commitment to the right of intellectual freedom. Principle 7: “The information policies, procedures, and practices of the library media program reflect legal guidelines and professional ethics.” Principle 7: “The information policies, procedures, and practices of the library media program reflect legal guidelines and professional ethics.”

What would Della do?

Important Vocabulary to Know

Challenged An attempt to remove or restrict materials based upon the objections of a person or a group. An attempt to remove or restrict materials based upon the objections of a person or a group.

Banned Removal of materials. Removal of materials.

Stealth Censorship A parent, community member or librarian, fearing controversy, will remove a book from the shelf. A parent, community member or librarian, fearing controversy, will remove a book from the shelf.

Self Censorship See “Stealth Censorship” See “Stealth Censorship”

Topics Prone to Censorship in the United States (ALA, 2009) Sexually Explicit Content Sexually Explicit Content Challenge Example: The Perks of Being a Wallflower Challenge Example: The Perks of Being a Wallflower Unsuited to Age Group Unsuited to Age Group Challenge Example: The Color Purple Challenge Example: The Color Purple Violent Content Violent Content Challenge Example: My Sister’s Keeper Challenge Example: My Sister’s Keeper

Censorship in Public Schools

Island Trees School District v. Pico Landmark Supreme Court case which establishes the rights of students to not only express information but, also to receive it.

Role of Media Specialist in Censorship

It is your job to protect the principle of intellectual freedom. It is your job to protect the principle of intellectual freedom. If you are writing your own policy, this should be included in that policy. If you are writing your own policy, this should be included in that policy.

Role of Media Specialist in Censorship When someone comes to you with a complaint, always listen calmly and politely. When someone comes to you with a complaint, always listen calmly and politely. Explain the school’s selection policy to see if this might dissuade the complainant. Explain the school’s selection policy to see if this might dissuade the complainant. If not, follow school policy regarding re- evaluation of materials. If not, follow school policy regarding re- evaluation of materials. (Bishop, 2007)

BCPS Challenge Policy Listen calmly and objectively. Listen calmly and objectively. Explain the selection criteria used in BCPS. Explain the selection criteria used in BCPS. Have complainant fill out appropriate form. Have complainant fill out appropriate form. Advise Office of Library and Information Technology of the complaint. Advise Office of Library and Information Technology of the complaint.

BCPS Challenge Policy Cont’d Confer with the principal about the resource (it is recommended to not remove the resource at this point). Confer with the principal about the resource (it is recommended to not remove the resource at this point). LMS and complainant will be notified when a decision is reached. LMS and complainant will be notified when a decision is reached.

Howard County Public Schools Challenge Policy Community member fills out appropriate form. Community member fills out appropriate form. Form will be forwarded to review committee. Form will be forwarded to review committee. Book will be removed from shelf until decision is made. Book will be removed from shelf until decision is made. Committee will recommend to approve/disapprove material. Committee will recommend to approve/disapprove material. Committee will submit a copy of evaluation to complainant. Committee will submit a copy of evaluation to complainant.

Howard County Public Schools Challenge Policy Cont’d Committee Recommendation will be sent to Board of Ed who will take action. Committee Recommendation will be sent to Board of Ed who will take action. No reevaluation will be allowed for 2 years. No reevaluation will be allowed for 2 years. Complainant will be notified. Complainant will be notified.

Examples of Censorship in BCPS Froggy Went A-Courtin’ removed from Elementary schools Froggy Went A-Courtin’ removed from Elementary schools Middle School Survival Guide removed from Elementary schools Middle School Survival Guide removed from Elementary schools

Censorship and Media

Acceptable Use Policies * “It outlines the terms and conditions for Internet use by defining access privileges, rules of online behavior, and the consequences of violating those rules” (Media Awareness Network 2010a) * Create a Checklist

Laws *Federal Children’s Internet Protection Act (June 2003 court case ruled it does NOT violate the First Amendment) *Elementary and Secondary Education Act *Maryland: Requires public libraries to adopt policies to prevent minors from obtaining access to obscene materials via the internet (Dec 2009)

Issues Filtering/Rating Software Filtering/Rating Software Parental Support Parental Support Use of Wikis/Blogs Use of Wikis/Blogs

Bibliography American Association of School Librarians. (1998). Information power: building partnerships for learning. Chicago, IL: American Library Association. American Association of School Librarians. (1998). Information power: building partnerships for learning. Chicago, IL: American Library Association. American Library Association. (2010). About banned & challenged books. Retrieved from ooks/index.cfm American Library Association. (2010). About banned & challenged books. Retrieved from ooks/index.cfm ooks/index.cfm ooks/index.cfm American Library Association. (2010). Checklist for creating an internet use policy. Retrieved from stcreating.cfm American Library Association. (2010). Checklist for creating an internet use policy. Retrieved from stcreating.cfm stcreating.cfm stcreating.cfm Baltimore County Public School System. (2010). Selection criteria for School Library Media Center Collections. Retrieved from Baltimore County Public School System. (2010). Selection criteria for School Library Media Center Collections. Retrieved from

Bibliography Cont’d Bishop, K. (2007). The collection program in schools: concepts, practices and information sources. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited. Bishop, K. (2007). The collection program in schools: concepts, practices and information sources. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited. Erlandson, R. (1996, October 11). Froggy sent a-packin' ban: baltimore county schools bounce "froggy went a-courtin' " from their library shelves, and the author leaps to his book's defense. The Baltimore Sun Erlandson, R. (1996, October 11). Froggy sent a-packin' ban: baltimore county schools bounce "froggy went a-courtin' " from their library shelves, and the author leaps to his book's defense. The Baltimore Sun Howard County Public School System. (2010). Selection of instructional materials. Retrieved from Howard County Public School System. (2010). Selection of instructional materials. Retrieved from Media Awareness Network. (2010). Acceptable use policies for internet use. Retrieved from awareness.ca/english/resources/special_initiatives/wa_resource s/wa_teachers/backgrounders/acceptable_use.cfm Media Awareness Network. (2010). Acceptable use policies for internet use. Retrieved from awareness.ca/english/resources/special_initiatives/wa_resource s/wa_teachers/backgrounders/acceptable_use.cfmhttp://media- awareness.ca/english/resources/special_initiatives/wa_resource s/wa_teachers/backgrounders/acceptable_use.cfmhttp://media- awareness.ca/english/resources/special_initiatives/wa_resource s/wa_teachers/backgrounders/acceptable_use.cfm

Bibliography Cont’d Media Awareness Network. (2010). Internet censorship: issues for teacher-librarians. Retrieved from awareness.ca/english/resources/special_initiatives/wa_resource s/wa_shared/backgrounders/internet_censorship_schrader.cfm Media Awareness Network. (2010). Internet censorship: issues for teacher-librarians. Retrieved from awareness.ca/english/resources/special_initiatives/wa_resource s/wa_shared/backgrounders/internet_censorship_schrader.cfmhttp://media- awareness.ca/english/resources/special_initiatives/wa_resource s/wa_shared/backgrounders/internet_censorship_schrader.cfmhttp://media- awareness.ca/english/resources/special_initiatives/wa_resource s/wa_shared/backgrounders/internet_censorship_schrader.cfm National Conference of State Legislatures. (2009). Children and the Internet: laws relating to filtering, blocking and usage policies in schools and libraries. Retrieved from National Conference of State Legislatures. (2009). Children and the Internet: laws relating to filtering, blocking and usage policies in schools and libraries. Retrieved from