Why You Can't “Censorproof” Your Public Library

Abstract

Because there is considerable pressure on public librarians to censor materials in their collections, it is no wonder that some staff will go to almost any lengths to avoid challenges, criticism, and controversy over which titles and which kinds of materials should be made available to their communities. Nevertheless, while these reactions are quite understandable, a close reading of recent censorship research suggests that they are not solutions. The purpose of this article is to explore the reasons why this kind of avoidance behavior-"censorproofing"4s eventually doomed to failure, and to suggest alternative strategies that might make more effective use of the time, energy, imagination, and resources of public library staff.[Anicle copies available for a fee fiom The Haworth Documen! Delive~y Service: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail address: getinfo@haworth.com]

Indoctrination and Common Sense Interpretation of Texts: The Tucson Unified School District Book Banning

“…In some respects, those who hold to this style of interpretation reject reader-response theory as a viable method for interacting with texts. Schrader (1997) links this dismissal to what he calls "word fear," noting that it is a type of interpretation of people who reject any distinction between narrative and indoctrination, between portrayal and instruction and promotion, between description and "how-to," between disclosure and endorsement and advocacy, between statement and encouragement and glorification, between exposure and seduction, between telling and teaching, between storytelling and condoning, between discussion and recruitment, between knowledge and action. (10) As I have previously (Knox 2014(Knox , 2015 demonstrated, this common sense interpretation of texts unites book challengers of different ideologies and worldviews.…”

Social Tolerance and Racist Materials in Public Libraries

“…44 Twelve years earlier, Schrader had determined that various studies have shown that between 40 percent and two-thirds of public librarians have felt pressured to engage in self-censorship when choosing materials for their collections. 45 Librarians can use the context presented in this paper to inform their collection-development decisions concerning materials containing racist content. Comparing the demographic makeup of the library community to the demographic predictors of support for challenges might help librarians predict the likelihood of challenges so that they can be prepared for a potential challenge in their library.…”