Statements on Book Censorship

"'We’re Preparing For a Long Battle.' Librarians Grapple With Conservatives’ Latest Efforts to Ban Books" TIME reports. In its article originally published on November 15, Deborah Caldwell-Stone, Executive Director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, was quoted as saying,"'We’re seeing an unprecedented volume of challenges. I’ve worked for ALA for 20 years, and I can’t recall a time when we had multiple challenges coming in on a daily basis.'"

New York Library Association published its "Position Statement on the Defense of Intellectual Freedom" the same week as TIME's article.

The New York Library Association (NYLA) reaffirms its commitment to protecting and upholding intellectual freedom and the freedom to read. We advocate for the rights of all patrons to access information on a variety of topics and viewpoints without restrictions, which is a fundamental act of participation in a democracy.

With the increasing number of challenges, especially for books regarding race and LGBTQ+ communities, New York’s school libraries and librarians are being pressured to censor and restrict access to information. Parents have the right to set restrictions for their own children, but no person or group has the right to deny access to all readers. This principle applies equally to the free access of information in other types of libraries as well.

Libraries are unique institutions of education and knowledge that provide information with impartiality and balance. Library materials are carefully selected by professionally trained librarians to represent a broad range of ideas and opinions and appeal to the needs and interests of all members of their communities. In a democratic society, partisan disagreements cannot dictate the decision to remove such materials.

Therefore, the New York Library Association stands firmly opposed to the restriction, removal, and/or censorship of books and other library materials in an attempt to limit the freedom to read or obstruct intellectual freedom.

Adopted by NYLA Council
November 18, 2021

Source: https://www.nyla.org/nyla-position-statement-on-the-defense-of-intellectual-free...

Several days later, The Kansas City Public Library released a more elaborate "Statement on Book Banning" (with links in the original):

Nearly 40 years ago, a Supreme Court ruling established that school boards cannot remove books from school libraries based on a dislike of the books’ contents. Yet, in recent weeks, groups in Texas, Virginia, South Carolina, and right here at home in Cass County, Kansas City’s Northland, and Wichita have worked to remove dozens of books from shelves, keeping them out of reach of the nation’s youngest readers.

In some cases, those efforts have failed, and the libraries have kept the books in question on their shelves. The Kansas City Library applauds districts that have followed the well-established procedure in place to review challenges.

The Library condemns any proposed censorship of reading materials and insists that reading for information, enlightenment, and interest is a fundamental right of all Americans. We encourage all libraries to remain committed to a diverse collection that serves the needs of all readers.

Our position is rooted in our deep respect for the First Amendment and guided by the American Library Association’s Bill of Rights, which states: A person’s right to read and right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.

Similarly, books should not be excluded or eliminated from shelves based on the origin, background, or views of their authors.

The growing number of Americans eager to work against these ideals is alarming, because a well-read and informed population is vital to a free and balanced exchange of ideas among its members — an ability critical to the continued success of our union.

Some may find it radical that a child’s right to library usage is equal to an adult’s. But to those who would restrict a child’s access to books, particularly books concerning marginalized communities, we offer this reminder: Within the pages of a book, we not only see ourselves and feel less alone, we also gain perspective on those whose lives are nothing like our own.

For more information about First Amendment violations and to read books that have recently been banned in public schools, please visit your local library.

Your Kansas City Public Library

Source: https://kclibrary.org/blog/kansas-city-public-library-statement-book-banning (2021-11-24)

A few days after that, the American Library Association published its "Statement on Book Censorship" in apparent support.

Due to a dramatic uptick in book challenges and outright removal of books from libraries, ALA's Executive Board and the Boards of Directors for all of ALA's eight divisions have released the following joint statement regarding attempts to remove materials that focus on LGBTQIA+ issues and books by Black authors or that document the Black experience or the experiences of other BIPOC individuals:

In recent months, a few organizations have advanced the proposition that the voices of the marginalized have no place on library shelves. To this end they have launched campaigns demanding the censorship of books and resources that mirror the lives of those who are gay, queer, or transgender, or that tell the stories of persons who are Black, Indigenous or persons of color. Falsely claiming that these works are subversive, immoral, or worse, these groups induce elected and non-elected officials to abandon constitutional principles, ignore the rule of law, and disregard individual rights to promote government censorship of library collections. Some of these groups even resort to intimidation and threats to achieve their ends, targeting the safety and livelihoods of library workers, educators, and board members who have dedicated themselves to public service, to informing our communities, and educating our youth.

ALA strongly condemns these acts of censorship and intimidation.

We are committed to defending the constitutional rights of all individuals, of all ages, to use the resources and services of libraries. We champion and defend the freedom to speak, the freedom to publish, and the freedom to read, as promised by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.

We stand opposed to censorship and any effort to coerce belief, suppress opinion, or punish those whose expression does not conform to what is deemed to be orthodox in history, politics, or belief. The unfettered exchange of ideas is essential to the preservation of a free and democratic society.

Libraries manifest the promises of the First Amendment by making available the widest possible range of viewpoints, opinions, and ideas, so that every person has the opportunity to freely read and consider information and ideas regardless of their content or the viewpoint of the author. This requires the professional expertise of librarians who work in partnership with their communities to curate collections that serve the information needs of all their users.

In 1953, when confronted with comparable threats to our democratic values, the American Library Association issued the Freedom to Read Statement, a declaration in support of freedom to think or believe as one chooses, the freedom to express one's thoughts and beliefs without fear or retaliation, and the right to access information without restriction. ALA's Executive Board, staff, and member leaders reaffirm not only the principles of the Freedom to Read statement but also the daily practices that ensure it continues to inform the profession and that library workers and library trustees have the training, information, tools, and support they need to celebrate and defend their communities' right to read and to learn.

With the freedom to read under threat, the ALA, including its Executive Board, Divisions, Roundtables, and other units stand firmly with our members, the entire library community, allied organizations, and all those across this country who choose to exercise their own right to read and access information freely, and we call on others to do the same.

American Library Association Executive Board
American Association of School Librarians Board of Directors
Association of College and Research Libraries Board of Directors
Association for Library Service to Children Board of Directors
Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures Board of Directors
Public Library Association Board of Directors
Reference and User Services Association Board of Directors
Young Adult Library Services Association Board of Directors
United for Libraries Board of Directors

See the original: https://www.ala.org/advocacy/statement-regarding-censorship (2021-11-29)