Reviews

True Stories of Censorship Battles in America's Libraries by Kathy Barco, Valerie Nye

blueskygreentreesyellowsun's review

5.0

This book should be mandatory reading for every parent whose child is in school or about to start school. Maybe it would help get them to see that this issue is bigger than their child, that it is as big as freedom gets. And maybe it would get them to think a bit more, be ruled by fear a bit less, and get them to back the f off and let library professionals do their jobs.

While the most common involved parents freaking out about their kids' reading material, there were also really thought-provoking stories about other types of censorship, such as librarians' self-censorship and about student activism against censorship.

Ending now with the quintessential quote from the book: "Who do they think they are? What gives them the right to decide what I can and can't read?" (p.49)

jodi_kryer's review

emotional informative fast-paced

5.0

bibliothecarivs's review

4.0

A good collection of many first-person accounts from the front-lines in the battle for intellectual freedom in America. I enjoyed the diversity of experiences (some are full-on, drag-your-name-into-the-mud-and-the-courts attempts at book banning while others are only slight passes at challenging) and the relative diversity of outcomes that show the real-world application of ALA ideals as library workers of all types deal with the unique details of their particular situations. A must-read for anyone who cares about libraries and/or the First Amendment.

hannahlee's review

3.0

This is an excellent tool for anyone in the library profession, or just interested in hearing about experiences around book-banning efforts and censorship. I read a couple essays from this in grad school and finally had a chance to go back and revisit the rest. Fascinating case studies and moving testimony.