An important part of the mission of ALAN is to help combat censorship. ALAN’s Anti-censorship Committee plays an important role in this mission. You can read this document summarizing the policies and procedures of this committee.
In addition, the compiled resources located here can help any who are confronted with challenges of censorship.
SpeakLoudly Censorship Resources
Challenges in schools, libraries, and communities (old, new, and pending)
NCTE Censorship Challenge Reports (http://www.ncte.org/action/anti-censorship/reports)
Freedom to Read Foundation (ALA) Status of Recent Cases (http://www.ala.org/groups/affiliates/relatedgroups/freedomtoreadfoundation/ftrfinaction/recentcasestatus/statusrecent)
News on the Latest Censorship Attempts (NCAC) (http://www.ncac.org/news)
Censorship and/of Youth (NCAC) (http://www.fepproject.org/issues/harmfulminors.html)
Freedom to Read Foundation (ALA) Quarterly Newsletter (http://www.ala.org/groups/affiliates/relatedgroups/freedomtoreadfoundation/ftrfinaction/ftrfnews/ftrfnews)
Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom (Office of Intellectual Freedom, ALA) (http://www.ala.org/offices/oif/oifprograms/ifpubs/nif/newsletterintellectual)
Preparing for and responding to a challenge
NCTE Rationales for Teaching Challenged Books (http://www.ncte.org/action/anti-censorship/rationales)
Support for Dealing with Library Challenges (Office of Intellectual Freedom, ALA) (http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/copingwithchallenges)
Scales, Pat. (2009). “Have No Fear: Don’t be Frightened by Book Challenges–Be Prepared. School Library Journal. (http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/articlescensorship/857579-341/have_no_fear_donapost_be.html.csp)
Sample policy for handling challenges to texts: Miami-Dade County, FL (see Letter C, Use of Instructional Materials) (http://www.neola.com/miamidade-fl/search/policies/po2510.htm)
Sample policy for handling challenges to texts: Orange City, OH (select 9000; select 9130) http://www.neola.com/orangecity-oh/
Position statements: NCTE
NCTE Position Statements (http://www.ncte.org/positions/censorship)
The Students’ Right to Read
Censorship: Don’t Let it Become an Issue in Your Schools
Statement on Censorship and Professional Guidelines
Common Ground: Speak with One Voice on Intellectual Freedom and the Defense of It
Guidelines for Dealing with Censorship of Nonprint and Multimedia Materials
Guidelines for Selection of Materials in English Language Arts Programs
Resolution on Students’ Right of Expression
Resolution on Teachers’ Right to Teach
Resolution on Censorship and [Nonprint] Media
Resolution on Students’ Freedom of Speech and Press
Resolution on Collecting Rationales for Defending Challenged Works
Resolution on Opposing Abridgment or Adaptation as a Form of Censorship
Resolution on Opposition to Censorship
Resolution on Confronting Efforts to Censor Instructional Materials
Resolution on Formation of a Foundation to Support Academic and Intellectual Freedom
Resolution on Meeting Obscenity Challenges to Teaching Materials
Resolution on the Report of the President’s Commission on Obscenity and Pornography
Position Statements: ALA
Library Bill of Rights
Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights
ALA Code of Ethics
Libraries: An American Value
Freedom to Read Statement
Intellectual Freedom Resolutions
Other Policies and Guidelines
Minors, Libraries, and the Internet
For Young People
What You Can Do To Oppose Censorship
Schools and the Children’s Internet Protection Act
Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges to Library Materials
Reporting a Challenge
Shooting The Messenger: Why Censorship Won’t Stop Violence
Classroom, school, and library activities and resources
Banned Books Week (Office of Intellectual Freedom, ALA)
(http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek)
Intellectual Freedom Toolkits (Office of Intellectual Freedom, ALA)
(http://www.ala.org/offices/oif/iftoolkits/intellectual)
Notable Quotations on the First Amendment and the Freedom to Read (Office of Intellectual Freedom, ALA)
(http://www.ala.org/offices/oif/ifissues/issuesrelatedlinks/quotations)
Censorship in Schools (Office of Intellectual Freedom, ALA)
(http://www.ala.org/offices/oif/ifissues/censorshipschools)
Voices Against Book Censorship (NCAC)
(http://www.ncac.org/Kids-Right-to-ReadVoices-Against-Book-Censorship)
Book Censorship Toolkit (NCAC) (http://www.ncac.org/literature/bookcensorshiptoolkit.cfm)
Guide to the First Amendment in Schools (NCAC) (http://www.ncac.org/education/schools/index.cfm)
LGBTQ Right to Read Resource (NCAC)
(http://ncac.org/LGBTQ-Right-to-Read-Resource-Main-Page)
Educational and Advocacy Materials for Sale (NCAC)
(http://www.ncac.org/store)
Research and writings on censorship
Freedom to Read Foundation (ALA) Quarterly Newsletter (http://www.ala.org/groups/affiliates/relatedgroups/freedomtoreadfoundation/ftrfinaction/ftrfnews/ftrfnews)
Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom (Office of Intellectual Freedom, ALA) (http://www.ala.org/offices/oif/oifprograms/ifpubs/nif/newsletterintellectual)
NCTE Publications on Censorship (https://secure.ncte.org/store/censorship)
NCAC Publications (http://www.ncac.org/publications)
Teepen, Tom. “In Defense of America’s Freedoms.”American Libraries (December 2004, pp. 54-56).
Intellectual Freedom Manual, 8th edition. American Library Association (http://www.ifmanual.org/)
Sister organizations that support anti-censorship efforts
National Council of Teachers of English Anti-Censorship Center (http://www.ncte.org/action/anti-censorship)
Freedom to Read Foundation (sponsored by the American Library Association) (http://www.ala.org/groups/affiliates/relatedgroups/freedomtoreadfoundation/aboutftrf/aboutftrf and http://www.ftrf.org)
Foundation established to promote and defend the right to express ideas without governmental interference and to read and listen to the ideas of others, as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF/ALA) (http://www.ala.org/offices/oif)
Office charged with implementing ALA policies on intellectual freedom as described in the Library Bill of Rights (policy on free access to libraries and library materials).
National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) (http://www.ncac.org/)
Coalition comprised of fifty national not-for-profit organizations (including NCTE, ALA, and IRA) working together to protect First Amendment rights.
Kids’ Right to Read Project (http://www.ncac.org/Kids-Right-to-Read)
Supported by the Youth Free Expression Project (http://ncac.org/yfep) of the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC).
Free Expression Policy Project (http://www.fepproject.org/)
Created to provide information, research, and advocacy related to free speech, copyright, and media democracy issues, including restrictions on publicly funded expression in libraries and schools and censorship intended to shield children from information and ideas.
Organizations that support censorship
PABBIS (http://www.pabbis.com/)
Citizens United for Responsible Education (CURE) (http://www.curewashington.org/about)
