[OYAN] IFC Tuesday Topic: Securing the Right to Read

[MAURER Jennifer L * SLO]

Hi Folks,

Marie Felgentrager is the high school and district librarian for Roseburg School District and is a member of the Oregon Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee<https://www.olaweb.org/intellectual-freedom-committee-home> (IFC). On behalf of the IFC, she authored an excellent informative essay<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jIEHDHzlfAZjDlusEJl3fdrnpJpCaKeD/edit> about state and national efforts to defend the right to read during this season of increased book challenges. It’s part of the IFC’s Tuesday Topics series<https://ola.memberclicks.net/if-resources>, and a PDF will soon be posted on the IFC’s website. This is the opening paragraph of the essay, but I encourage you to read the entire piece.
Securing the Right to Read
An antiquated Norse word for “librarian” translates to “book dragon,” a moniker highlighting the necessity to guard books as treasure. Fast forward to 2023, and the need to protect library materials has grown to astonishing proportions. The drive to censor materials, ban books, and criminalize librarians is at an all-time high<https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/book-ban-attempts-reach-record-high-in-2022-american-library-association-report-says>. This censorship is often cloaked in fear-mongering, under the guise of parental rights<https://mspublishing.blogs.pace.edu/2023/04/17/the-book-censorship-and-the-rising-parents-rights-bill/>. Horrific accusations have been spread through media outlets in order to legitimize prejudice under the guise of “protection,” a tactic that should worry anyone who has studied historical atrocities. Proponents argue that they are simply ensuring only “appropriate” literature is carried in libraries. With BIPOC and LGBTQ+ authors and works<https://pen.org/report/banned-in-the-usa-state-laws-supercharge-book-suppression-in-schools/> as the most common targets, one can deduce that the term “appropriate” is only what the complainants narrowly define. Those that wish to ban books pontificate loudly at library and school board meetings that public shelves are teeming with pornographic works. A quick check of books recently banned and censored<https://pen.org/index-of-school-book-bans-2022/> shows many prohibited titles have nothing to do with sexual content of any kind. Books denied the right to be placed on library shelves include those on subjects such as health, race, and items featuring historical events.

As always, if you need help with an intellectual freedom issue, please reach out to the IFC<https://www.olaweb.org/contact-ifc>.

Thanks,
Jen

Ex officio member of the IFC

Jen Maurer, MLS (she/her)
School Library Consultant, State Library of Oregon
jennifer.maurer at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:jennifer.maurer at slo.oregon.gov> | 971-375-3540 | https://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries
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From: Libs-Or On Behalf Of Marie Felgentrager via Libs-Or
Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 11:50 AM
To: Libs-Or
Subject: [Libs-Or] IFC Tuesday Topic

Good Morning,

July's Tuesday Topic, brought to you by the Intellectual Freedom Committee, can be found here: IFC Tuesday Topic<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jIEHDHzlfAZjDlusEJl3fdrnpJpCaKeD/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=113572172909885022593&rtpof=true&sd=true>.
[https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/docs/AOD9vFouoOhaOmW89Fs79ip-Q8RS5VKQKW1GUiEXCTlVF8FtZUud0Dzsfbv2C2dapj58vuSgjsulzOyyCM3hxNRd3JR7OyHDPw=w1200-h630-p]<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jIEHDHzlfAZjDlusEJl3fdrnpJpCaKeD/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=113572172909885022593&rtpof=true&sd=true>
July 2023 Tuesday Topic II.docx<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jIEHDHzlfAZjDlusEJl3fdrnpJpCaKeD/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=113572172909885022593&rtpof=true&sd=true>
Tuesday Topic: July 2023 Welcome to Tuesday Topics, a monthly series covering topics with intellectual freedom implications for libraries of all types. Each message is prepared by a member of OLA's Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) or a guest writer. Questions can be directed to the au...
docs.google.com

Have a wonderful day,


Marie Felgentrager, District Librarian/Media Specialist
Roseburg High School
mfelgentrager at roseburg.k12.or.us

"A library is a good place to go when you feel unhappy, for there, in a book, you may find encouragement and comfort. A library is a good place to go when you feel bewildered or undecided, for there, in a book, you may have your question answered. Books are good company, in sad times and happy times, for books are people - people who have managed to stay alive by hiding between the covers of a book." - E.B. White 📚
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