Intellectual Freedom in School Library Media

CentersDeborah Caldwell-Stone

and Angela Maycock

Challenges to library materials

What is a challenge?– A formal complaint filed with a library or

school about the content or appropriateness of material

– Request for materials to be removed or restricted

– Impacts the rights and access of others in the community

Why should I be concerned?

Challenges happen frequently – it’s important to be prepared! OIF records challenges:

– Over 11,000 recorded since 1990– Average: more than 1 challenge every single day– 60% of challenges are brought by parents– Most challenges take place in school libraries or around materials for young people

How can I be prepared?

• Know your institution’s policies and procedures for handling complaints– Don’t have a policy? See ALA’s Workbook

for Selection Policy Writing, tinyurl.com/yhnot4x

• Know the principles of intellectual freedom, Library Bill of Rights, and ALA Code of Ethics– www.ifmanual.org/lbor– www.ifmanual.org/codeethics

How should I respond?

• Stay calm and professional• Actively listen: eye contact, be

attentive• Ask the customer what they want: “Can

you tell me what you’d like me to do?”• Offer alternatives: “Can we try to find a

book that’s better suited to your tastes?”

• Be willing to apologize: “I’m really sorry this was a bad experience for you.”

Where can I go for help?

• Contact OIF – we can provide information and guidance on challenge situations– Book reviews, advice, support, referrals

• Anyone can contact OIF – you don’t have to be an ALA member– 800-545-2433 ext. 4221– amaycock@ala.org– www.ala.org/oif

Labels and Rating

Systems“There are a lot of subsections of teen

books with stickers and different labels

indicating what you might find inside.”

http://www.flickr.com/photos/iamthebestartist/

3390130258/

Different types of labels

• Viewpoint-neutral labels can save the time of users – for example, genre-based labels (YA, mystery, science fiction, etc.)

• Labels that warn, discourage, or prohibit access – based on value judgments about content, language, or themes – are prejudicial and violate Library Bill of Rights

Labeling & shelving by AR level?

“If collections are organized by age or grade, some users will feel inhibited from selecting resources from sections that do not correspond to their exact characteristics… While some parents and teachers may find housing books by grade or reading levels helpful in guiding developing young readers, a library should not use such labels as a classification system, or to promote any restrictive or prejudicial practice. Most computerized reading programs list books by grade or reading levels on their Web sites and parents and teachers may consult these if they wish to seek such information.”

Rating Systems

For example, Common Sense Media:

“An independent voice for families”

Reviews movies, TV shows, websites, apps, games,

music, and books

Libraries implementing ratings?

“Many organizations use rating systems as a means of advising either their members or the general public regarding the organizations’ opinions of the contents and suitability or appropriate age for use of certain books, films, recordings, Web sites, games, or other materials. The adoption, enforcement, or endorsement of any of these rating systems by a library violates the Library Bill of Rights. When requested, librarians should provide information about rating systems equitably, regardless of viewpoint. Adopting such systems into law or library policy may be unconstitutional.”

For more information

• Labeling and Rating Systems: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights– http://www.ifmanual.org/labelingrating

• Questions and Answers on Labeling and Rating Systems– http://www.ifmanual.org/labelingratingqa

Privacy and Confidentiality in the School Library Media Center:

Who can access students’ library records?

Privacy in the Library

“In a library (physical or virtual), the right to privacy is the right to open inquiry without having the subject of one’s interest examined or scrutinized by others.”

Privacy: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights

http://ifmanual.org/privacyinter

“Confidentiality exists when a library is in possession of personally identifiable information about users and keeps that information private on their behalf.”

Privacy: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights

http://ifmanual.org/privacyinterp

ALA Code of Ethics

“ We protect each library user's right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted.”

Article III, ALA Code of Ethics

http://ifmanual.org/codeethics

AASL Position Statement:

“The library community recognizes that children and youth have the same rights to privacy as adults…

School library media specialists are urged to respect the rights of children and youth by adhering to the tenets expressed in the Confidentiality of Library Records Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights and the ALA Code of Ethics.”

AASL Position Statement on the Confidentiality of Library Records

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/aaslissues/positionstatements/confidentiality.cfm

State Laws and Reader Privacy

In 48 states and the District of Columbia, state statutes protect the confidentiality of library circulation records.

The language of the statutory provisions identify protected information and outline the library’s responsibility under the law.

Missouri § 182.817 :

Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, no library or employee or agent of a library shall be required to release or disclose a library record or portion of a library record to any person or persons except:

1)In response to a written request of the person identified in that record, according to procedures and forms giving written consent as determined by the library; or

2)In response to an order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction upon a finding that the disclosure of such record is necessary to protect the public safety or to prosecute a crime.

State Library Confidentiality Law

• Controls disclosure of a student's educational records and information.

• Requires educational institutions to adopt policies that permit parents and students to inspect and correct the student’s educational records.

• Prohibits disclosure of a student's records without the written permission of parents or the student

• Library circulation records and similar records maintained by a school library are considered "educational records" under FERPA

Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act(FERPA)

Who can access students’ library records?

• Library staff and volunteers, for the sole purpose of managing library services.

• Parents, if sought as part of a request to examine educational records under FERPA.

• Persons who have the written permission of the student and the student’s parent.

• Police or other third parties who have obtained a court order after a court has determined that disclosure is necessary to protect public safety or to prosecute a crime.

How Can Libraries Protect Privacy?

• PRIVACY POLICIES– Written policy– Clear procedures– Best practices– ALA, AASL guidelines– State & Federal Law

• Education• Training

“No person (certificated, support staff or volunteer) will release any part of any library record of any student, faculty or other library user to any third party except under the stipulation defined in Missouri Statute Section 182.817.”

Sample School Library

Confidentiality Policy

What Does OIF Do?

Support for librarians facing book challenges: Book reviews, advice, support, contacts.

Guidance on relevant law, policy, and best practices related to intellectual freedom: censorship, privacy issues, Internet and social media use.

What Does OIF Do?

Education: webinars and in-person training for librarians, trustees, administrators, lawyers

Publications: IF newsletter, monographs, website, toolkits, blogs

National Advocacy: Banned Books Week, Choose Privacy Week, Freedom to Read Foundation