Preparing For The Censor – ETL503

Williams and Dillon (2007)

How well prepared are you for a visit from a would-be censor?

I am not prepared at all for a visit from a would-be censor.  Our library does not have a collection development policy with selection criteria or procedures for dealing with challenged material.  I am new to the library and don’t have detailed knowledge of every item in the collection and I have not been part of the selection process of those items.

Although I now know, after reading examples in Williams and Dillon (2007) and Hoffman and Wood (2007), to:

·        Remain calm.

·        Listen to the concerns of the person challenging the material.

·        Explain that their concern will be put towards a committee involving the principal and other personnel.  Explain selection procedures.(Or provide a written copy if it exists, or a copy of the collection development policy).

·        Ask them to place their concerns in writing, including whether they’ve read the whole document or just sections.

·        Refer their written concern to the principal

·        The principal will convene a panel to discuss concern.  The teacher librarian is to provide reviews of the material to help the panel make a decision. 

·        The material is to remain in the library during the process.

·        The decision is handed down within two weeks of written complaint.

·        If the decision is to keep the item in the collection, the challenger has a right to an appeal.

·        On appeal the principal makes the final decision.

·        A record is to be kept of the challenge and final decision in case of further challenges to the same material.

 

What are the most common reasons for wanting to censor school library materials?

Moral reasons:

·        Sex

·        Language

·        Religion

Psychological reasons:

·        “Protecting” students from concepts such as AIDS, contraception, child abuse.

Sociological reasons:

·        Sexism

·        Racism

·        Violence

·        “Socially unacceptable” behaviour

 

References

Hoffman, F. W., & Wood, R. J. (2007). Intellectual freedom. In Library collection development policies: school libraries and learning resource centers (p. 63-80). Lanham, Maryland : Scarecrow Press.  Retrieved from Charles Sturt University Library.

Williams, C. L., & Dillon, K. (1993). Preparing for the censor. In Brought to book : censorship and school libraries in Australia (p. 95-112). Melbourne : ALIA/DW Thorpe.  Retrieved from Charles Sturt University Library.