Censorship news and advice for librarians and educators from School Library Journal en-us http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/community/Censorship/47055.html?nid=3243 2009 Reed Business Information. Subject to its http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/info/260304.html Terms of Use. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:09:31 MST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6705458.html?nid=3243 Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower (MTV, 1999) is in trouble again—and this time it’s been removed from shelves as it goes through the review process outlined by Virginia’s Roanoke County Public Schools. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:05:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6705443.html?nid=3243 Two circulation staffers at the Jessamine County Public Library (JCPL) in Nicholasville, KY, have lost their jobs for refusing to let an 11-year-old girl check out a book in the graphic novel series, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Their reasoning? She was too young. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6703699.html?nid=3243 A parent of one of our eighth graders came into the library and began pulling books off our shelves. She ended up stacking 15 books on the circulation desk—including The Giver, The Chocolate War, Monster, and Looking for Alaska—and demanded that we permanently remove them from our collection. Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6704350.html?nid=3243 Scholastic has reversed its decision to censor Lauren Myracle’s controversial Luv Ya Bunches (Abrams/Amulet, 2009) from school book fairs and will make a slightly sanitized version of the title available at middle schools in spring 2010. The novel, however, still won’t be for sale at elementary fairs—even though it specifically targets that age group. Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6703588.html?nid=3243 The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) this week celebrated 35 years of defending free speech with a gala ceremony honoring celebrated author Judy Blume. Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6703349.html?nid=3243 Don’t expect to see Lauren Myracle’s new book Luv Ya Bunches (Abrams/Amulet, 2009) at Scholastic school book fairs this year. It’s been censored—at least for now—due to its language and homosexual content. Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6699297.html?nid=3243 Just in time for Banned Books Week brings word that Stehenie Meyer's popular vampire series, "Twilight," is being cast out of schools—this time in some Australian elementary schools—with the four novels being relegated to segregated sections of libraries where younger students can’t check out any of them Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6698534.html?nid=3243 Young adult author Ellen Hopkins was recently banned from speaking at Whittier Middle School in Norman, OK, following a parental complaint over one of her books, a semiautobiographical account of her daughter’s battle with a crystal meth addiction. Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6698028.html?nid=3243 Laurie Halse Anderson’s books seem to be causing a stir around the country, just in time for Banned Books Week. Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:05:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6692454.html?nid=3243 The recent book-banning controversy over Tintin au Congo (Little, Brown, 2005) at New York’s Brooklyn Public Library is yet another reminder of the importance of Banned Books Week, an event in which thousands nationwide will read from banned or challenged books, speak out and learn about censorship, and celebrate the right to choose reading materials without restriction. Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:05:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6685539.html?nid=3243 I’m about to replace an elementary school librarian who has had the job for 35 years. When I visited the school, I noticed that the picture books and fiction were shelved on the bottom three shelves, and nonfiction was shelved on the top shelves. When I inquired about this arrangement, the librarian told me that only fourth and fifth graders were allowed to check out nonfiction; so she ke... Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6685638.html?nid=3243 Tintin, the 80 year old Belgian comic book character, is in trouble again—but this time it’s a book banning controversy. Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6676896.html?nid=3243 A federal court has dismissed a lawsuit against two Tennessee school districts for agreeing to stop using Internet filters that block access to information about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues (LGBT). Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6673566.html?nid=3243 As part of a program for young people, we’d like to adapt a children’s book for Readers’ Theater. The resulting script will be presented in a school or public library. I’ve come across a lot of helpful tips on how to transform a book into script, but I haven’t found anything on copyright issues. Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6672905.html?nid=3243 Story from Publishers Weekly: Bloomsbury Children’s Books put a white girl with long, straight tresses on the jacket of Justine Larbalestier’s Liar, a novel about an African-American tomboy with short, “nappy” hair. Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:26:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6668286.html?nid=3243 The Washington, DC, school district that had previously scrubbed gay-themed books from its summer reading list has restored all of the titles following objections from librarians and the capital’s gay and lesbian community. Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6666665.html?nid=3243 I live in fear that someone will challenge one of our books. I’m not very confident about dealing with censorship because I didn’t have a single course about it in library school. Now that I’m an elementary school librarian, I feel that my library school failed me. Where can I go for help? I don’t know very many library schools that offer a course that deals exclusively ... Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6666527.html?nid=3243 You won’t see books like And Tango Makes Three (S & S, 2005), The Geography Club (HarperCollins, 2003) or any other gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLTB)-themed title on the summer reading lists for the District of Columbia Public Schools. Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:34:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6663436.html?nid=3243 Famed authors Toni Morrison and Fran Lebowitz gathered at a New York City cocktail party last week to talk about book banning—in libraries, schools, and stores. Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6663173.html?nid=3243 A list of sexually explicit and gay-themed titles will remain on the YA shelves of Wisconsin’s West Bend Community Library following the board’s unanimous vote to reject efforts by local parents to restrict access to those books. Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EST