You are invited to participate in a new book that will be published by the American Library Association. The book is a collection of stories from and about librarians who have experienced challenges to library material and/or challenges to intellectual freedom. The book has the current working title: Censorship Stories from the Frontline.
The book is an anthology of stories from all library types. Stories will address examples of censorship challenges related to (but not limited to): religious intolerance, prisoner rights, Black Lives Matter, anti-immigrant sentiment, international challenges, politics, working with culturally sensitive material, weeding as a form of censorship, self-censorship, displays, intellectual freedom, disinvited speakers, trigger warnings, Me Too, meeting room uses, or any other censorship topic you have experienced in a library or related to library material and/or programming.
The deadline for submissions is September 30, 2018
For more information about this project, to join the mailing list, and to follow the book’s progress visit: www.intellectualfreedombook.
Essay Guidelines
Essays should be no more than 2500 words in length, and should provide details of a full experience, from initial contact through ultimate resolution. Essays can be a first person narrative or a case study description. I am also seeking descriptions of interactions that may not have ended in a formal challenge or request for reconsideration. These anecdotes should reflect the concerns of either the patron or the librarian or both.
Tips on writing: Explain the situation and how you were involved. What were some of the most interesting and/or difficult parts of the situation? How was the issue resolved? What resources did you draw upon (don’t list resources; tell us about the resources and why they were helpful)? Had you received any training on handling challenges prior to the situation you describe? Have you received any since? Did your library have a procedure in place? If not, does it have one now? What did you learn from the experience? What advice would you give to someone in a similar situation?
Writers should include the facts of the challenge. If this is information is based on a personal experience, please share your thoughts and feelings about the confrontation, dealing with administrators, and dealing with the public.
Email submissions to: intellectualfreedombook@
Your submissions should be submitted with the following information:
1. Title your essay.
2. Include a 100 word biographical statement.
Your submissions should follow these formatting rules:
1. Text should be attached as a .doc
2. Your Name should be the document label (example JaneSmith.doc)
3. If you have questions about style, please consult The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th edition, as your general guide to punctuation, capitalization, quotation, abbreviation, source citation, use of italic, etc.
Submitting an essay does not guarantee publication. If you have questions about your essay and/or topic, please contact me at: intellectualfreedombook@
Contributors will be asked to sign a writer agreement before publication.
Deadline for submissions: September 30, 2018
Interviews
If you would prefer to be interviewed about your experience, send me an email with a description of the experience. Please provide links and/or attachments to any material that will provide additional background on the situation.
Please distribute this announcement widely and forward it to librarians you believe might have a story to tell.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Val Nye
