[Libs-Or] Rights, Responsibilities & Reactions Intellectual Freedom News - September 2022

[Jennifer Keyser]

Hello Libs-Or Community,

The September edition of Multnomah County Library's IF Newsletter is now
available. This month we bring you an extended issue for Banned Books Week
<https://bannedbooksweek.org/>. We gathered recent articles, stories and
resources from around the web that highlight the various aspects of banned
books and censorship. We hope you find this newsletter to be helpful in
making sense of the current wave of book challenges. Thanks for reading!

Rights, Responsibilities & Reactions
Intellectual Freedom Newsletter –September 2022
Special Edition - Banned Books & Censorship

------------------------------

Upcoming Banned Book Weeks Event

They Want us to be Quiet: Books unite us, censorship divides us
<https://multcolib.org/events/they-want-us-be-quiet-books-unite-us-censorship-divides-us/122110>

Thursday, October 6, 6 p.m., online

Banned Books & Censorship in the News

Get a sense of the current wave of book bans with this explainer that
includes the top banned books and why they are being targeted: Banned books
are on the rise
<https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2022/06/29/banned-books-explained/7772046001/>
(USA Today, 7 min, plus 2:39 min video). The connection between book bans
and free speech is succinctly explained in this PBS NewsHour video: Nationwide
effort to ban books challenges freedom of speech
<https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/nationwide-effort-to-ban-books-challenges-freedom-of-speech>
(6:40min, includes transcript). For a look at the overarching themes that
drive book bans, especially ones that target marginalized communities,
see Lessons
form apartheid-era book bans in censorship
<https://theconversation.com/what-the-us-can-learn-from-apartheid-era-book-bans-in-south-africa-185114>
(The Conversation, 9 min). ALA released preliminary data on 2022 Book Bans
<https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2022/09/ala-releases-preliminary-data-2022-book-bans>
(3 min).

For a discussion of the impact of book bans on libraries, see: Censorship
wars: Why have several communities voted to defund their public libraries?
<http://americanlibraryassociation.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0xMDc1MjQxNyZwPTEmdT0xMTY2NDE1Mzc5JmxpPTk3MjQxNTMz/index.html>
(WBUR, 47:31min). NPR looks at how libraries have become the center of
political and cultural debates
<https://www.npr.org/2022/08/31/1119752817/local-libraries-have-become-a-major-political-and-cultural-battleground>
(11 min). Reason Magazine details the nuances and different fronts of book
bans and censorship in this article that introduces an entire issue
dedicated to banned books: Who Controls What Books You Can Read?
<https://reason.com/2022/07/03/who-controls-what-books-you-can-read/>
(Reason, 8 min)

Conservative activists focused on banning books that address gender and
sexuality and limiting curriculum on racial inequity and discrimination are
seeking positions on school and library boards: Moms for Liberty aim to
take over school boards
<https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/moms-liberty-conservative-activists-school-boards-rcna37594>
(NBC News, 6 min) The group aims to be active on a local level to move
forward their agenda, while school administrators are faced with having
school curriculum and policies politicized. Underlying the book bans is a
challenge to diversity with the majority of the targeted authors being
BIPOC and/or LGBQT+: LGBTQ+ Community and People of Color in the Crosshairs
of Banned Book Movement
<https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2022/04/20/lgbtq-community-people-of-color-in-the-crosshairs-of-banned-book-movement/>
(Oregon Capital Chronicle, 11 min).  Ibram X. Kendi discusses why kids
should read banned books
<https://www.rd.com/article/ibram-x-kendi-book-banning/> (Reader’s Digest,
10 min).

Schools and libraries are an obvious target for book bans as they champion
intellectual freedom, however conservative activists have shifted their
attention from the institutions towards the people that uphold access and
take a stand against censorship. Educators
<https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/07/15/1055959/book-bans-social-media-harassment/>
and librarians
<https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/06/books/book-ban-librarians.html> are now
being disparaged on social media and through other outlets.

In response to the attacks educators fight back against censorship
<https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/educators-fight-back-against-gag-orders-book-bans-and-intimidation>
(National Education Association, 16 min). The Chicago Public Library has
selected Maus for their “One Book, One Chicago” program as a way to spark
conversation and counter misconceptions around banned books
<https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-ent-maus-chicago-public-library-one-book-one-chicago-20220908-jauhq2bf7ffmjmarwyp6o237gy-story.html>
(The Chicago Tribune, 7 min). Teens are calling out censorship: Unbanning
History: Georgia Teen Organizers Fight Back Against School Censorship
<https://www.splcenter.org/news/2022/09/02/georgia-students-fight-back-against-school-censorship>
(Southern Poverty Law Center, 16 min) and Teens Are Fighting Back Against
LGBTQ Book Bans
<https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3p3yb/teens-are-fighting-back-against-lgbtq-book-bans>
(Vice, 6 min). Concerned citizens in Idaho organized a read-in
<https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/05/us/idaho-bonners-ferry-library-books/index.html>
to express their opposition to book bans and to show support for their
local library (CNN, 7 min). Good Good Good identifies ways to help and
advocate against book bans
<https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/banned-books> (13 min, find more
resources in the Banned Books & Censorship Resources below).

A look at what is lost when a library closes its doors due to staff being
attacked: Charles Pierce on the closure of the Vinton Public Library
<https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a40639734/vinton-iowa-library-closing/>
(Esquire, 6 min.). Go deeper with the book Intellectual Freedom Stories
From a Shifting Landscape
<https://multcolib.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S152C1792567>, which
provides first-hand experiences of censorship in libraries. Find more books
on intellectual freedom and censorship
<https://multcolib.bibliocommons.com/list/share/114633184_multcolib/2170301039_intellectual_freedom,_censorship_and_you,_from_multcolib>
.

Opinion piece: A short letter to the editor supporting the merits of
intellectual freedom:  Freedom to Read is Essential for Our Democracy
<https://ctexaminer.com/2022/06/30/freedom-to-read-is-essential-for-our-democracy/>
(CT Examiner, 5 min)



Legal cases

A legal case seeking the identities of persons requesting the removal of
books
<https://coloradofoic.org/judge-state-law-protects-privacy-of-those-who-ask-for-library-books-to-be-banned-or-reclassified/>
highlights how libraries protect the privacy of patrons, while upholding
intellectual freedom. The legal challenge raised concerns about whether the
request is coming from within the community or from an outside group.
(Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition,  5 min)



When calls for censorship at schools and libraries are escalated to law
enforcement,  it brings into the conversation First Amendment and state
laws: New Hanover Sheriff  was requested to investigate schools for being
“obscene and pornographic”
<https://www.whqr.org/local/2022-07-08/nhcso-investigated-schools-for-obscene-and-pornographic-books-da-found-no-unlawful-content>
(WHQR, 7 min)

A look back at a legal case where students fought for their freedom to
read, going all the way to the Supreme Court: The Dangerous Lesson of Book
Bans in Public School Libraries
<https://reason.com/2022/07/09/the-dangerous-lesson-of-book-bans-in-public-school-libraries/>
(Reason, 12 min). The article reflects on the contrast between that case
and the current wave of labeling materials and speech as dangerous or
offensive.

There may be more legal cases around banned books in the future due to new
state laws: Some states are changing the laws that govern community librarie
<https://www.npr.org/2022/06/21/1106320865/why-states-are-changing-the-laws-that-govern-libraries-serving-communities>s
(NPR, 4 min). More on how book bans call into question First Amendment
rights
<https://firstamendmentwatch.org/an-unprecedented-uptick-in-book-bans-brings-first-amendment-scrutiny/>
(First Amendment Watch, 12 min).

LGBTQ+
Authors weigh in on the value of creating works that center queer
characters and why LGBTQ+ books are being targeted. Oregon author Jules
Ohman delves into how queer narratives can’t be erased:  How Writing a
Novel Helped Me Say Gay
<https://lithub.com/how-writing-a-novel-helped-me-say-gay/> (Lithub, 10
min). In The Purpose of Book Bans is to Make Queer Kids Scared
<https://lithub.com/the-purpose-of-book-bans-is-to-make-queer-kids-scared/>,
Lev AC Rosen reflects on having his book being banned and how it is
entangled in the history of criminalizng queer folks (Lithub, 15 min). Here
is  a  guide to accessing LGBTQ+ books
<https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2022/06/26/lgbtq-books-access-school-bans/7532933001/>
that are being banned at schools and libraries. (USA Today)

When drag queen storytimes were initially offered at libraries, there was
immediate pushback, however in the past year there has been an increase in
protests and attacks: Drag faces new threats as it moves into mainstream
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/08/12/drag-mainstream-attacks-crossroads/>
(Washington Post,12 min). Despite being targeted, drag queens commit to
offering joyous storytimes:  Drag Queens Are “Not Gonna Back Down” after
Attacks on Story Hours
<https://decider.com/2022/07/19/drag-queen-story-hour-important-to-kids/>
(Decider, 12 min).

Comics
Censors love to target comics
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2022/02/04/censors-love-target-comics-like-maus-heres-why/>
(Washington Post, 8 min). A look at the long history of banning
comics: Censorship
of Comics in the Classroom Goes Well Beyond Maus
<https://www.cbr.com/maus-comic-censorship-history/> (Comic Book Resources,
6 min). For an even deeper dive into the history of comics and censorship
from the Comics Code to Manga, see the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund’s six
part series: History of Comics Censorship
<http://cbldf.org/resources/history-of-comics-censorship/>.

Quiet censorship:
Lost, Stolen or Censored?
<https://www.oif.ala.org/oif/lost-stolen-censored/>, this article from the
American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom (OIF ALA)
explores the challenge of identifying censorship. Quiet or silent
censorship may be carried out through vandalism
<https://thetylerloop.com/how-the-tyler-public-library-responds-when-patrons-censor/>
and theft of materials
<https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/05/video-captures-vandal-removing-1000-lgbtq-books-roadside-library/>,
and can be considered a hate crime
<https://www.hamiltonlibrary.org/hate-crime-reported-at-hamilton-public-library/>
.

Book bullies attempt to hide our diversity
<https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2022/6/16/23170937/books-being-hidden-bookstores-censorship-black-blm-lgbtq-catholic-vote-hide-pride>
(Chicago Sun-Times, 9 min) looks at quiet censorship through the removal of
book displays (read more from OIF ALA about the Hide the Pride Campaign
<https://www.oif.ala.org/oif/catholicvote-announces-hide-the-pride-campaign-to-remove-lgbtqia-books-from-library-pride-month-displays/>
and find tips and talking points for fighting censorship of LGBTQ+
materials: Keeping Pride Books on Display
<https://www.oif.ala.org/oif/fight-censorship-keeping-pride-books-on-display/>
).

The current wave of book challenges may have a more insidious effect on
future library collections, especially at school libraries. A recent survey
by the School Library Journal details how challenges and directives from
school directors or boards may sway future decisions about titles that
address diversity and inclusion to avoid controversy –a form of soft
censorship or self-censorship: Censorship Attempts Will Have a Long-lasting
Impact on School Library Collections
<https://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/story/censorship-attempts-will-have-a-long-lasting-impact-on-school-library-collections-slj-survey-shows>
(School Library Journal, 16 min).

Another side of silent censorship is the control of what information is
available, primarily through publishing. These two opinion pieces
contemplate how some works may not get published: There’s More Than One Way
to Ban a Book
<https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/24/opinion/book-banning-censorship.html>
(New York Times, 9 min) and Is it worse to ban a book or never publish it?
<https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/07/is-it-worse-to-ban-a-book-or-never-publish-it/670968/>
(Atlantic, part on not publishing vs. banning books begins with the header
“Cancellation Nation”). The publishing industry continues to be dominated
by white publishers and authors, this article looks at the effort to
diversify the field: Inside the Push to Diversify the Book Business
<https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/22/magazine/inside-the-push-to-diversify-the-book-business.html>
(New York Times, 55 min)

Prisons:
Book bans in prison cut inmates’ lifeline to the outside world
<https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/book-bans-prison-cut-inmates-lifeline-world-rcna29097>
(NBC News, 3 min, plus video). An incarcerated writer speaks to how books
can make positives changes, yet they still may be banned in prisons: Reading
While Incarcerated
<https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/17/opinion/banned-books-prison.html> (New
York Times, 8 min)

Prison systems continue to ban books by black authors
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/01/12/end-prisons-ban-books-black-authors-censorship-malcom-x-toni-morrison/>
(Washington Post, 5 min) discusses how titles are kept out of prisons and
identifies organizations that provide books to prisons. A look at how a
book about prison history was banned and then censored: Book on prison
uprisings banned in NY prisons
<https://reason.com/2022/07/14/blood-in-the-water-2/> (Reason, 3 min) –but
wait, the ban has been reversed, but the book is redacted
<https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/01/nyregion/attica-book-ban-blood-in-the-water.html>
(New York Times, 8 min)

Banned Books & Censorship Resources

   -

   OLA's Intellectual Freedom resource page
   <http://www.olaweb.org/intellectual-freedom-student-resources>
   -

   ALA’s Frequently Challenged Books
   <https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks> and Banned
   Book FAQ <https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/banned-books-qa>
   -

   United Against Book Bans Toolkit
   <https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/toolkit/>
   -

   Comic Book Legal Defense Fund <http://cbldf.org/> -news, resources and
   legal cases

Additional Intellectual Freedom Reading and Resources

ALA Intellectual Freedom Blog: https://www.oif.ala.org/oif/ A blog
dedicated to intellectual freedom issues, and includes the Intellectual
Freedom News
<https://www.oif.ala.org/oif/category/intellectual-freedom-news/> –a weekly
roundup of IF related articles.

Oregon Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Toolkit
<https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/iftoolkit/home> (published February 8,
2022). A range of tools and resources relating to IF challenges and
policies created by the OLA Intellectual Freedom Committee.
------------------------------

Rights, Responsibilities & Reactions is a monthly roundup of Intellectual
Freedom News compiled by the Multnomah County Library Intellectual Freedom
Committee. The Intellectual Freedom Committee wants to hear from you,
contact us at lib.ifc at multco.us


*Jennifer Keyser *(she/her)
*Policy Coordinator Librarian*
Tuesdays - Saturdays
Multnomah County Library
multcolib.org
[This email was encrypted for your privacy and security]
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/libs-or/attachments/20220921/a60c86bf/attachment.html>