[Libs-Or] Rights, Responsibilities & Reactions Intellectual Freedom Newsletter – April 2023

[Jennifer Keyser]

Dear Oregon Library Committee,

Happy National Library Week! The April edition of the Multnomah County
Library's IF Newsletter is now available. It includes the ALA's annual
report on banned books and libraries, plus recent news and articles on
censorship, AI, disinformation and more.

Thanks for reading!

Rights, Responsibilities & Reactions
Intellectual Freedom Newsletter – April 2023

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

Recent Intellectual Freedom Articles

The American Library Association (ALA) reports: Attempts to Ban Books
Doubled in 2022
<https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/23/books/book-ban-2022.html> (New York
Times, 7 min). Read the full report from the ALA: State of America’s
Libraries <https://www.ala.org/news/state-americas-libraries-report-2023>.
Book banning reached a new level as the Missouri House Republicans vote to
defund libraries
<https://heartlandsignal.com/2023/04/11/missouri-house-republicans-vote-to-defund-libraries/>
(Heartland Signal, 3 min).  Episode 179 of the Citations Needed podcast
connects past attacks against libraries to the current challenges: From
Budget Cuts to Book Bans — The Decades-Long Assault on Public Libraries
<https://soundcloud.com/citationsneeded/episode-179-from-budget-cuts-to-book-bans-the-decades-long-assault-on-public-libraries>
(Soundcloud, 64 min, includes explicit language). This Washington Post
opinion piece offers a more nuanced approach to opposing censorship through
flipping the script, emphasizing the cost, and supporting libraries: How to
fight book bans and win
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/04/05/book-bans-how-to-fight/>
(7 min). For more on organizations that are stepping up to fight
censorship, seeLibraries for the People, EveryLibrary Want to Help You Get
Involved With Your Library
<https://bookriot.com/get-involved-with-your-library/> (Book Riot, 4 min). (
censorship)

In case you missed it: On the first day of April, an article about the
Canby Public Library removing all their books
<https://canbyfirst.com/council-approves-request-to-remove-all-books-from-canby-public-library/>
bounced around social media (Canby First, 3 min). The spoof article was a
nod towards the actual removal of books from the Canby Public High
School: Students
protest after Canby School District removes 35 books from school libraries
<https://www.kgw.com/article/news/education/students-protest-canby-school-district-removes-books-libraries/283-e1f7c1d9-cc4b-49de-bdd8-ac95afb3f410>
(KGW, 9 min).  (censorship, access)

A look back at the controversy that bubbled up around a picture book: Banned
Bunnies
<https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/26/books/review/garth-williams-the-rabbits-wedding-banned-books.html>
(The New York Times, 9 min). (censorship, inclusion)

The updating of popular titles continues to make the news: As Classic
Novels Get Revised for Today's Readers, a Debate About Where to Draw the
Line
<https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/03/books/classic-novels-revisions-agatha-christie-roald-dahl.html>
(New York Times, 11 min). Theo Downes-Le Guin takes a thoughtful approach
to revisions: Why I Decided to Update the Language in Ursula K. Le Guin’s
Children’s Books
<https://lithub.com/why-i-decided-to-update-the-language-in-ursula-k-le-guins-childrens-books/>
(Lit Hub, 6 min).  (censorship, inclusion)

Related to the revision of books is the role of sensitivity readers. The
Conversation sees them as part of the editorial process: In the far from
diverse publishing industry, sensitivity readers are vital
<https://theconversation.com/in-the-far-from-diverse-publishing-industry-sensitivity-readers-are-vital-199913>
(6 min). Reason magazine, while providing some context around the rise in
sensitivity readers, posits that quiet censorship has become more prevalent
in the book publishing industry:  Sensitivity Readers Are the New Literary
Gatekeepers <https://reason.com/2022/07/05/rise-of-the-sensitivity-reader/>
(20 min). (censorship, diversity, inclusion)

The Internet Archives aims to fight the recent ruling against their digital
lending of books
<https://apnews.com/article/books-and-literature-manhattan-john-g-koeltl-business-0674119646bd920492f87490e8d2027b>
(AP News, 4 min). Publishers Weekly provides more context around the case: In
a Swift Decision, Judge Eviscerates Internet Archive’s Scanning and Lending
Program
<https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/91862-in-a-swift-decision-judge-eviscerates-internet-archive-s-scanning-and-lending-program.html>
(13 min). This Vice article highlights the legal precedent set by the case
and related issues with digital lending for libraries: Internet Archive
Loses Historic Copyright Case, Vows to Appeal
<https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3wz8b/internet-archive-loses-historic-copyright-case-vows-to-appeal>
(8 min). (access, copyright)

 AI boosts the spread of misinformation by  flooding the internet with a
plethora of synthetic histories: Conspiracy Theories Have a New Best Friend
<https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/03/generative-ai-disinformation-synthetic-media-history/673260/>
(The Atlantic, 13 min). Building off of copyright and digital rights
management practices, tech solutions like Watermarking ChatGPT, DALL-E and
other generative AIs could help protect against fraud and misinformation
<https://theconversation.com/watermarking-chatgpt-dall-e-and-other-generative-ais-could-help-protect-against-fraud-and-misinformation-202293>
(The Conversation, 11 min). (disinformation, information literacy)

The positive side of AI can be seen in seeking advice for navigating
challenging situations
<https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/24/style/ai-chatgpt-advice-relationships.html>
or brainstorming solutions to complex scenarios
<https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/02/briefing/chatgpt-ai.html> (New York
Times, 11 min and 6 min). Beyond AI chat, AI may have applications in the
educational setting: 4 ways that AI can help students
<https://theconversation.com/4-ways-that-ai-can-help-students-200973> (The
Conversation, 6 min). For more uses of AI see: 35 Ways Real People Are
Using A.I. Right Now
<https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/04/14/upshot/up-ai-uses.html>
(New York Times). (information literacy)

For those interested in learning more about AI, The New York Times provides a
five part series on AI and Chatbots
<https://www.nytimes.com/article/ai-artificial-intelligence-chatbot.html>,
explaining what it is and how it works, including a glossary
<https://www.nytimes.com/article/ai-artificial-intelligence-glossary.html>,
best applications of the technology, issues with it, and a glimpse into the
future of AI. (information literacy)

Libraries in California are working together to prevent the spread of
health misinformation
<https://today.ucsd.edu/story/libraries-primed-to-play-integral-role-in-preventing-the-spread-of-health-misinformation>,
which includes a toolkit
<https://libguides.sdsu.edu/library-toolkit-addressing-health-misinformation>
(UC San Diego, 5 min). (disinformation, information literacy)

This opinion piece takes a look behind sneaky ads and notes proposed bills
and regulations that seek to address privacy concerns for consumers: If
It's Advertised to You Online, You Probably Shouldn't Buy It. Here's Why.
<https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/06/opinion/online-advertising-privacy-data-surveillance-consumer-quality.html>
(New York Times, 9 min). (privacy, information literacy)

Additional Intellectual Freedom 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 that are divided into key IF topics.

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. We welcome suggestions of articles to include at
lib.ifc at multco.us.


*Jennifer Keyser *(she/her)
*Policy Coordinator Librarian*
Monday - Friday
971-429-4699
Multnomah County Library
multcolib.org
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