Ensuring Intellectual Freedom and Access to Information in the School Library Media Program » (New Edition)

HELEN R. ADAMS is a former Wisconsin school library media specialist and technology coordinator and currently teaches an online course on intellectual freedom issues for Mansfield University of Pennsylviania. She is past president of the AASL and has previously published books on school library media program policy development and privacy with Libraries Unlimited.

Over two-thirds of all challenges to books and other resources reported to the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom occur in schools. This book explores intellectual freedom issues in school library media programs including selection of resources and materials selection policies, challenges and censorship, students' freedom to read, patron privacy and confidentiality of library records, the blocking of Internet resources, access to the school library media center, its resources, and services for students with special needs, and advocacy for minors' First Amendment rights in school library media programs. Throughout the text, practicing public school and private school library media specialists at different grade levels candidly share their stories and observations on how intellectual freedom principles and ALA policy statements apply to real life situations. Attorney Mary Minow provides vital information about the impact of the First Amendment, federal and state law, and court decisions on minors using libraries in schools. Whether a library media specialist in the field or a student in a graduate or undergraduate library and information studies program, readers will find both practical information and advice to complement the concepts found in the American Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Manual. Print and Web resources are included.

School Library Journal

Pointing to the school media professional as a leader in promoting principles such as the Library Bill of Rights and ALA's Code of Ethics within the parameters of local school environment, Adams offers help in creating and following a selection policy, keeping library records private, and understanding the effect of case law on intellectual freedom. Inset boxes summarize key ideas and paraphrase terms such as defining and interpreting what is "harmful to minors." The author tackles confidentiality issues such as calling up automated patron histories, and new advances such as biometrics (such as fingerprint) used for library identification. Other problems in the area of technology include filtering legislation and the FCC's principle of "net neutrality" that stand in the way of student access to Web 2.0 tools. Each chapter integrates facts with testimony from library media specialists across the United States, bulleted tips for implementing ideas, follow-up resources, and extensive notes. A final chapter provides tools for advocacy, and notable authors such as Suzanne Fisher Staples, Harry Mazer, and Katherine Paterson weigh in with appended personal statements about censorship. This is a useful guide for new and veteran library media specialists, and a must-share with school administrators.-Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY

Foreword Dianne McAfee Hopkins Hopkins, Dianne McAfee

1 What Is Intellectual Freedom in a School Library Media Program? 1

2 The First Amendment in School Library Media Programs 15

3 Selection of School Library Media Program Resources 37

4 "The Right to Read" 59

5 Privacy in the School Library Media Program 79

6 Challenges to School Library Media Program Resources 107

7 Intellectual Freedom and the Internet in Schools 141

8 Access to the Library Media Program for Students with Disabilities 175

9 Advocacy for Intellectual Freedom: Building Common Ground 201

App. A Core Intellectual Freedom Documents from the American Library Association 227

App. B Pro-First Amendment Organizations 229

App. C Three Authors Speak about Censorship 233

App. D Right to Read Lesson Plans 237

Index 249