Resources
Articles about banned books have frequently appeared in the news recently. For example, this Book Riot article discusses several proposed pieces of legislation that involve banning books. Additionally, the ACLU tracks legislation affecting LGBTQ+ rights, which includes banning books with LGBTQ+ content.
To find more information about different forms of censorship and how we can respond, please visit the following sites:
The ALA provides helpful information about frequently challenged and banned books, including the top 10 list for each year.
They also explain how people can fight censorship, including supporting library workers, showing up to library and school board meetings, and contacting their representatives.
The Freedom to Read Foundation is a non-profit legal and educational organization affiliated with the ALA. It provides grants to individuals and groups, participates in litigation involving freedom of speech and the press, and educates people about the importance of libraries and the First Amendment.
PEN America provides detailed information on why, where, and how books are banned and other forms of censorship. For example, librarians and teachers may be reluctant to purchase or teach books that could be seen as controversial.
We refer to the SLJ for reviews of the books we choose. A recent article discusses the results of their 2022 controversial book survey, in which librarians demonstrate the ways censorship attempts affect their collections.
The CBLDF protects the First Amendment rights of comics creators, publishers, librarians, and readers. The organization also explains why some comics/graphic novels have been banned.
Please refer to the show notes for each episode to see the resources we recommend for individual episodes.
