Downey, Jennifer. Public Library Collections in the Balance: Censorship, Inclusivity, and Truth. Libraries Unlimited, 2017. ISBN: 978-1-4408-4964-0
Description
Each chapter of this book blends instructive background narrative with practical advice, research findings, and relevant information about librarianship's professional guidelines, including the ALA's Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read Statement. Vignettes, "what would you do?" examples, effective non-confrontational techniques for conflict resolution, and lists of tips and traps help readers to think critically about their own biases and rehearse possible responses to controversial situations.
Table of Contents
- History of censorship in the public library and where we are today
- What gets challenged and why
- Internet access : to filter or not to filter?
- Media matters
- Preventing and preparing for challenges : a strong collection development policy, staff training, and professional resources
- Getting to know your communities: facts, figures, and assumptions
- Self-censorship and the importance of inclusiveness
- Quality and demand in public libraries : who decides?
- What to do when complaints and challenges happen
- Epilogue
- Appendix A. Where to turn: a source list of LGBT-friendly books and other materials
- Appendix B. Where to turn: a sampling of small and alternative presses.
