Creating Space at the Table: Intellectual Freedom Can Bolster Diverse Voices

Abstract

Many of the most challenged books, year after year, feature voices from diverse communities (including those of women, racial or ethnic minorities, and LGBT people). Intellectual freedom protects these voices and protects our right to hear these voices. This essay discusses the definition of intellectual freedom, why diverse perspectives are important, and how intellectual freedom can bolster diverse voices. In turn, this can improve our relationships with one another, increasing empathy and respect, which can be reflected in numerous ways and is particularly important in a divisive political climate. I ntellectual freedom is commonly seen as a core value of librarianship in the United States (and is, in fact, formally included as one by the American Library Association [ALA]). Sometimes its meaning and application are assumed rather than made explicit. In this essay, intellectual freedom is clearly defined and articulated, then discussed in relation to diverse books. This discussion illuminates the importance of intellectual freedom not just for libraries but also for our democracy as a whole, especially when politics are divisive. Defining Intellectual Freedom Perhaps the most commonly used definition comes from the ALA, which defines "intellectual freedom" as "the rights of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment" (ALA 2017c, par. 1). Elsewhere, ALA explains that "intellectual freedom is the right of every individual to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction. It provides for free access to all expressions of ideas through which any and all sides of a question, cause or movement may be explored" (ALA 2017d, par. 1; see also Oltmann 2016b). Both scholars and practitioners reiterate the foundational, core nature of in

Supporting the Right to Read: Principles for Selecting Children’s Books

“…In particular, such decisions often limit the representation of cultural and other kinds of diversity. Books with diverse content and characters tend to be disproportionately challenged (Knox, 2019;Oltmann, 2017), and challenged books often address topics such as sexuality, gender, and racial and cultural diversity (Doyle, 2018). Young people are drawn to books addressing difficult topics and social issues (Groenke, Maples, & Henderson, 2010), and books about controversial topics can be intellectually stimulating (Leland, Lewison, & Harste, 2018).…”

Good news, bad news, and fake news

“…This point can be illustrated in a number of ways. Articles have focused on varieties of civic education as a response to fake news and the political environment, and detail many library initiatives: in programming on a variety of topics from constitutionalism to election information to a sales tax forum (Bossaller, 2017); in opposing censorship and/or promoting intellectual freedom (Knox, 2017; Oltmann, 2017; Lilburn, 2017); in exposing exclusion and advocating inclusion of Latino/as (Adkins et al , 2017), African-Americans (Caswell, 2017; Jackson et al , 2017), and the white working class and rural areas (McCook, 2017; Mehra, 2017); and in efforts to educate the very young (Hill, 2017) and college students (Pun, 2017; Rose-Wiles, 2018) about fake news. At the core of these efforts the concept of critical information literacy is key to political literacy and efficacy.…”