Books Intellectual Freedom Ideas

WHAT IS INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM? The right of every individual to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction. American Library Association

INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM IS A RIGHT GUARANTEED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION

FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS INCLUDE: the freedom to express one’s opinion even if that opinion might be considered unpopular. the freedom to choose what to read

WHAT IS CENSORSHIP?

W HAT ARE THE MOST FREQUENTLY CENSORED MATERIALS?

BOOK CH ALLENGE VS. BOOK BANNING

WHAT IS A BOOK CHALLENGE? An attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. American Library Association

WHAT IS BOOK BANNING? The removal of materials from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others. American Library Association

WHY CHALLENGE A BOOK? Sexual content Profanity Racism Religious grounds Violence

INTENT IS TO PROTECT KIDS

WHEN IS CENSORSHIP OKAY? Not Protected by First Amendment:  Child porn  Obscenity  Pornography  Information essential to national security  Hate Speech

MOST FREQUENTLY CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2010 #10. Twilight – Stephanie Meyer Seventeen-year-old Bella leaves Phoenix to live with her father in Forks, Washington, where she meets an exquisitely handsome boy at school for whom she feels an overwhelming attraction and who she comes to realize is not wholly human. Objections: Religious viewpoint Violence

MOST FREQUENTLY CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2010 #9. Revolutionary Voices – Amy Sonnie A diverse collection of stories written by gay teens that discuss the challenges of growing up homosexual. Objections: Homosexuality Sexually explicit

MOST FREQUENTLY CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2010 #8. Nickel and Dimed – Barbara Eisenreich Author Barbara Ehrenreich relates her experiences from 1998 to 2000, during which time joined the ranks of the working poor as a waitress, hotel housekeeper, cleaning woman, nursing home aide, and Wal-Mart clerk to see for herself how America's "unskilled" workers are able to survive on only $6 or $7 an hour. Objections: Drugs Inaccurate Offensive language Political viewpoint Religious viewpoint

MOST FREQUENTLY CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2010 #7. What my Mother Doesn’t Know – Sonya Sones Sophie describes her relationships with a series of boys as she searches for Mr. Right. Objections: Sexism Sexually explicit Unsuited to age group

MOST FREQUENTLY CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2010 #6. Lush– Natasha Friend Unable to cope with her father's alcoholism, thirteen- year-old Sam corresponds with an older student, sharing her family problems and asking for advice. Objections: Drugs Offensive language Sexually explicit Unsuited to age group

MOST FREQUENTLY CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2010 #5. The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen accidentally becomes a contender in the annual Hunger Games, a grave competition hosted by the Capitol where young boys and girls are pitted against one another in a televised fight to the death. Objections: Sexually explicit Unsuited to age group Violence

MOST FREQUENTLY CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2010 #4. Crank – Ellen Hopkins Kristina Georgia Snow's life is turned upside-down, when she visits her absentee father, gets turned on to the drug "crank", becomes addicted, and is led down a desperate path that threatens her mind, soul, and her life. Objections: Drugs Offensive language Sexually explicit

MOST FREQUENTLY CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2010 #3. Brave New World – Aldous Huxley A satirical novel about the utopia of the future, a world in which babies are decanted from bottles and the great Ford is worshipped. Objections: Insensitivity Offensive language Racism Sexually explicit

MOST FREQUENTLY CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2010 #2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian – Sherman Alexie Budding cartoonist Junior leaves his troubled school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white farm town school where the only other Native American is the school mascot. Objections: Offensive language Racism Sex education Sexually explicit Unsuited to age group Violence

MOST FREQUENTLY CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2010 #1. And Tango Makes Three - Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson At New York City's Central Park Zoo, two male penguins fall in love and start a family by taking turns sitting on an abandoned egg until it hatches. Objection: Homosexuality

WHY SHOULD I CARE IF PEOPLE BAN BOOKS? It’s not just the books under fire now that worry me. It is the books that will never be written. The books that will never be read. And all due to the fear of censorship. As always, young readers will be the real losers. ~ Judy Blume

If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind. ~ John Stuart Mill; On Liberty

Lock up your libraries if you like, but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind. ~ Virginia Wolf