Intellectual+Freedom-Censorship

Resources recommended by Christine Eldred, Colchester High School
Dear Librarians,

Banned Books Week is next week, September 22-30! I am late in getting my annual email out to you about it, but we have had so many recent discussion on the listserv about intellectual freedom that I hope it has been some help in bringing these important issues to forefront of your mind at the busy time of year.

Please visit my online Intellectual Freedom guide and check out the Banned Books Week page, where I have updated some of the resources and added a couple of new ones. Some organizations haven't updated their web pages from last year so I was unable to update a few on the guide. @http://chs.csdvt.libguides.com/intellectualfreedom

Here's a BBW Pinterest page you may enjoy (there are undoubtedly many others): @http://www.pinterest.com/bookfaery/banned-books-week-2013/

I just discovered that The Freedom to Read Foundation provides grant funding for BBW events. This page includes info on the grants and video and pictures of previous winners and their project--a great place for ideas and inspiration! @http://www.ftrf.org/?page=krug_bbw

Here is the list of the Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2012, according to ALA's Office of Intellectual Freedom

1) Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey. Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited for age group

2) "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," by Sherman Alexie. Reasons: Offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group

3) "Thirteen Reasons Why," by Jay Asher. Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited for age group

4) "Fifty Shades of Grey," by E. L. James. Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit

5) "And Tango Makes Three," by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson. Reasons: Homosexuality, unsuited for age group

6) "The Kite Runner," by Khaled Hosseini. Reasons: Homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit

7) "Looking for Alaska," by John Green. Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group

8) Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz Reasons: Unsuited for age group, violence

9) "The Glass Castle," by Jeanette Walls Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit

10) "Beloved," by Toni Morrison Reasons: Sexually explicit, religious viewpoint, violence

Also:

Sorry to flood your email today. While preparing some materials for BBW, I came across an article from yesterday on a related topic--the First Amendment--that might be a great conversation starter with older students. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously that Facebook 'Likes' are constitutionally protected free speech.

Court Rules That Facebook ‘Likes’ Are Free Speech @http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/facebook-liking-is-protectected-free-speech-federal-court-says/2013/09/18/28c8e324-2070-11e3-b7d1-7153ad47b549_story.html @https://www.aclu.org/blog/free-speech-technology-and-liberty/court-rules-facebook-likes-are-free-speech

Christine Eldred

Christine Eldred Librarian, Colchester High School Colchester, VT 05446 Intellectual Freedom Rep, Vermont School Library Association [|eldredc@csdvt.org]

=Banned Website Day=