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Materials Challenges And Censorship

• Top 10 Most Challenged Books
  http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks
  Each spring, ALA releases its list of most frequently challenged books from the previous year.
  
  
• Banned Books Week
  http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek
  In late September, ALA and partner organizations sponsor a week-long observance of our freedom to read and the threat of censorship.
  
  
• Banned Websites Awareness Day
  http://www.ala.org/aasl/advocacy/bwad
  Censorship extends beyond our print collections and AASL is working to increase awareness of restrictions to websites and online resources.
  
  
• Reporting a Challenge
  http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/challengereporting
  Support for challenges—and even possible challenges—is available confidentially from ALA. Even if you do not require support, please report your challenge. Contact information and support materials are available here.
  
  
• Be Prepared!
  http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/essentialpreparation
  Don’t be caught by surprise. Have your collection development policy and reconsideration request (i.e., challenge form) available to share.
  
  
• What If Forum at University of Wisconsin's Cooperative Children's Book Center
  http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/freedom/whatif/default.asp
  The scenarios presented here will help librarians anticipate and address common intellectual freedom concerns.
  
  

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Lesson Plans About Censorship

• A Case for Reading: Examining Challenged and Banned Books—Grades 3-8
  http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/case-reading-examiningchallenged- 410.html
  
  
• Censorship in the Classroom: Understanding Controversial Issues—Grades 9-12
  http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/case-reading-examiningchallenged- 410.html
  
  
• Also see ReadWriteThink for lessons on specific authors, including Laurie Anderson and JK Rowling.
  
  

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LMC 2.0

• Developing Social Media Guidelines [PDF file]
  ISLMA’s IF Task Force offers pointers on how to frame social media guidelines for your school library.
  
  
• "How to Create Social Media Guidelines for Your School"
  http://www.edutopia.org/pdfs/edutopia-anderson-social-media-guidelines.pdf
  Steven Anderson, a technology instructor and consultant, collaborated with Facebook on these clearly explained guidelines. He also shares bookmarks on social media in education:
  http://www.diigo.com/user/stevenanderson/socialmedia
  
  
• Social Media Guidelines for Schools (a wiki)
  http://socialmediaguidelines.pbworks.com
  This wiki offers a glimpse at an early effort to collaboratively develop guidelines for social media use in schools.
  
  
• Social Media Guidelines for Schools
  http://thinkingmachine.pbworks.com/w/page/22187719/Think%20Social%20Media%20Guidelines
  Karen Montgomery and Wesley Fryer presented these recommendations at the 2011 Teaching the 21st Century Student conference.
  
  
• AASL White Paper on Educational Technology in Schools
  http://www.ala.org/aasl/aaslissues/positionstatements/tech-white-paper
  This newly released position statement from AASL embraces the growing list of technology tools available to 21st century learners and addresses how schools might enact policies to best utilize them.
  
  

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Access And Diversity

• ASCLA Library Accessibility--What You Need to Know:
  http://www.ala.org/ascla/asclaprotools/accessibilitytipsheets/
  This website offers tipsheets for assisting patrons with disabilities or special needs.
  
  
• Universal Design for Learning Guidelines for Libraries
  http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/udlguidelines/downloads
  This website offers a framework for creating learning environments that accommodate all learning styles.
  
  
• “Restricted Access to Library Materials: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights”
  http://ifmanual.org/restrictedaccess
  This excerpt from ALA’s Intellectual Freedom Manual offers a useful consideration of the various ways in which materials are restricted, sometimes unconsciously.
  
  
• Everyone's Special: Equal Opportunities for all Students to Learn
  http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/aaslpubsandjournals/knowledgequest/docs/ KQ_30_3_JanFeb11_WEB.pdf
  This excellent issue of AASL's Knowledge Quest contains articles and resources to support a wide range of student needs.
  
  
• Information for Libraries and Librarians Serving Latinos & Spanish-Speaking Communities:
  http://reforma.membershipsoftware.org/content.asp?pl=9&sl=59&contentid=59
  For more than 40 years, Reforma has been instrumental in the development of library programs that support Spanish language readers and speakers.
  
  
• Professional Development Tools/Multicultural Resources (ALA):
  Professional Development Tools/Multicultural Resources (ALA): http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm? Section=diversitytools&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=109562
  ALA provides a listing of professional organizations, online and print resources to support diverse library constituents.
  
  

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Position Statements

• "Access to Resources and Services in the School Library Media Program: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights" (ALA)
  http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/accessresources
  How does the school setting impact the rights of library users?
  
  
• "Access to Library Resources and Services Regardless of Sex, Gender Identity, or Sexual Orientation: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights" (ALA)
  http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/accesslibrary
  
  
• "Confidentiality of Library Records" (AASL)
  http://www.ala.org/aasl/aaslissues/positionstatements/conflibrecds
  Do you use open holds or send open library notices through a third party? It may be time to reconsider patron privacy.
  
  
• "Labeling in School Libraries" (AASL)
  http://www.ala.org/aasl/aaslissues/positionstatements/labeling
  With increased focus on standardized testing and reading by level, this statement is a useful reminder of the essence of library organization.
  
  
• "Language Rights in the 21st Century" (Reforma)
  http://reforma.membershipsoftware.org/content.asp?pl=51&sl=8&contentid=65
  Reforma is an organization that advocates for the rights of Spanish language readers and speakers.
  
  
• "Position Statement on Flexible Scheduling" (AASL)
  http://www.ala.org/aasl/aaslissues/positionstatements/flexsched
  Every librarian should have this statement ready to share with administrators and decision makers within their schools.