[Libs-Or] Rights, Responsibilities & Reactions Intellectual Freedom News - October 2022

[Jennifer Keyser]

 Dear Libs-Or Subscribers,

Please find below the October edition of Multnomah County Library's Rights,
Responsibilities & Reactions: Intellectual Freedom News.

Rights, Responsibilities & Reactions
Intellectual Freedom Newsletter – October 2022

Recent Intellectual Freedom Articles
New Right to Read Bill Expands School Library Access, Students’ Rights to
Read <https://bookriot.com/right-to-read-act-2022/> (Book Riot, 4min)) The
Right to Read Act (S. 5064
<https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/5064?s=1&r=2>
and H.R.
9056
<https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/9056?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%22%5D%7D&s=1&r=1>)
offers hope for school libraries amid the current wave of book challenges
and attacks against school boards and librarians. The legislation “would
increase student access to fully staffed and appropriately resourced school
libraries and authorizes funding to meet these urgent needs.” (ALA Applauds
New Legislation
<https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2022/10/ala-applauds-new-school-library-legislation-widen-access-students-nationwide>,
4 min). (legislation, access)

The Banned Books You Haven’t Heard About
<https://www.theatlantic.com/books/archive/2022/09/banned-books-increased-sales/671479/>
describes the impact of book bans on authors, especially those that might
not be well known. Book bans go beyond potentially limiting access to the
titles and can impact sales and future contracts. Many authors are
dependent upon institutes, like schools and libraries, buying copies en
masse  (The Atlantic, 11 min). (censorship, access)

This editorial from School Library Journal underscores how fear is guiding
the latest wave of book censorship and what children miss out on when
access is restricted: In Praise of Scary Things: Restricting kids’ access
denies them a mode to process fear
<https://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/story/in-praise-of-scary-things-restricting-kids-access-denies-them-a-mode-to-process-fear-censorship>
(5
min). PEN America released a report on book challenges in schools: Banned
in the USA
<https://pen.org/report/banned-usa-growing-movement-to-censor-books-in-schools/>
(PEN, 1hr 20 min)  (censorship)

More on the ripple effect of book bans: libraries are creating ‘sanctuaries’
<https://www.wbez.org/stories/with-book-bans-libraries-are-creating-sanctuaries/d0c369b4-05aa-4172-8ead-85db3a5a1ff3>
(WBEZ,
14 min), libraries are receiving violent threats
<https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7vyvb/libraries-across-the-us-are-receiving-violent-threats>
(Vice, 6 min) and ALA responds with a letter to the FBI
<https://www.ala.org/advocacy/letter-concern-fbi-regarding-threats-violence-libraries>
(ALA, 4 min)

Manufactured Controversy
<https://www.hccommunityjournal.com/article_0fbb7f40-440b-11ed-bd2a-ab7e064c048b.html>
details a call for censorship of a Banned Book Weeks display at a public
library and the investigation that ensued. The city and county agents
determined misinformation was at the heart of the controversy (Hill Country
Community Journal, 9 min). However, despite the conclusion of the
investigation the controversy continues
<https://www.hccommunityjournal.com/article_be631f46-4ef9-11ed-bd53-134ec1559af1.html>
with residents speaking out against the library. (censorship)

An update on a book challenge in Oregon: In response to the removal of the
graphic novel adaptation of “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Medford School District
<https://www.mailtribune.com/okategoriserade/2022/04/21/graphic-novel-removed-from-north-medford-hs/>
in April 2022, Oregon Library Association and Oregon Intellectual Freedom
Committee (OIFC) issued a Statement of the OIFC review and findings
<https://ola.memberclicks.net/assets/Communications/2022-23_communications/Medford%20Statement%20September%202022%20FINAL.docx.pdf>
(OLA, 8 min). (censorship)

Where Is All the Book Data?
<https://www.publicbooks.org/where-is-all-the-book-data/> exposes how data
shapes the publishing industry and calls for open access to and diversity
in data (Public Books, 22 min). The article is part of a series of data
driven articles by Public Books and Post45 Data Collective
<https://data.post45.org/> that looks at media and culture: Hacking the
Culture Industry
<https://www.publicbooks.org/tag/hacking-the-culture-industries/>. (access)

Switched Off: Why Are One in Five US Households Not Online?
<https://www.ntia.gov/blog/2022/switched-why-are-one-five-us-households-not-online>
details the barriers to home internet access and underscores the need for
the  Internet for All Initiative <https://www.internetforall.gov/>, which
aims to connect everyone in America with affordable and reliable internet
access (NITA, 5 min). However, gaps in service remain for native
communities: Digital Divide: Tribal Communities Undercounted, Underserved
<https://www.govexec.com/technology/2022/09/digital-divide-tribal-communities-undercounted-underserved/377125/>
(Government Executive, 5 min).  (digital divide, access)

A look back at privacy in libraries via a select history: Undercover at the
library: spies, reference desks, and the invention of privacy
<https://syllabusproject.org/undercover-at-the-library/>. (Syllabus
Project, 13 min). (privacy)

Additional Intellectual Freedom Reading and Resources

ALA Intellectual Freedom Blog: https://www.oif.ala.org/oif/ A blog
dedicated to intellectual freedom issues, and includes the Intellectual
Freedom News
<https://www.oif.ala.org/oif/category/intellectual-freedom-news/>.

Oregon Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Toolkit
<https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/iftoolkit/home> (published February 8,
2022). A range of tools and resources relating to IF challenges and
policies created by the OLA Intellectual Freedom Committee.
------------------------------
Rights, Responsibilities & Reactions is a monthly roundup of Intellectual
Freedom News compiled by the Multnomah County Library Intellectual Freedom
Committee. We welcome suggestions of articles to include at
lib.ifc at multco.us.


*Jennifer Keyser *(she/her)
*Policy Coordinator Librarian*
Monday - Friday
971-429-4699
Multnomah County Library
multcolib.org
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