Pathfinder Conclusion

       While working on my Pathfinder I learned a lot about my topic, “Censorship in libraries and banned books.” I learned why books are being banned and why libraries are being censored, which books are being banned and why, how books are banned and how libraries are censored, what’s allowing books to be banned and libraries to be censored, what’s being done to both continue and stop the banning of books and the censoring of libraries, etc.  

This pathfinder was useful because as Americans I think we should be aware and involved in the banning and/or censoring of all things in our country because whether we think it affects us or not, both banning and censoring are violations of our rights and freedoms. 

Pathfinder Books

1. “The Limits of Tolerance: Censorship and Intellectual Freedom in Public Libraries” by Ann Curry

This book focuses on the relationship between the practice of public librarians and the philosophy of intellectual freedom. The libraries and its librarians control access to information by selecting the materials in the library and therefore they do deal with censorship on a basic level. In this book Ann Curry surveys practicing librarians, asking them questions about their attitudes on “materials selection.” The final discussion covers managing the inevitable complaints from people and groups the selection policy has offended.  

Curry, A. (1996). The limits of tolerance: Censorship and intellectual freedom in public libraries. The Scarecrow Press, Inc.

1. “Burn This Book” by Toni Morrison 

This book is a collection of essays that focus on the meaning of censorship and the power literature has to inform the way we see both the world and ourselves. Americans often take freedom of speech for granted. Censorship is something most Americans associate with places like China and the former Soviet Union but more and more censorship is creeping into our lives threw politics and government. This book highlights just how important our freedom of speech and freedom to information is.   

Morrison, T. (2009). Burn this book. HarperCollins Publishers.

1. “Banned Books” by Marcia Amidon Lusted

“Banned Books” provides a balanced look at the topic of banned/censored books. It explores the history and future of book banning and censorship, including ancient Greece, but most importantly in modern US. This book explains why books are challenged and banned, as well as which titles have been challenged most often. 

Lusted, M. (2013). Banned books. ABDO.

Pathfinder Scholarly Websites

1. http://www.uprisebooks.org/

This website is really helpful because it’s specifically for the uprise against banning books. The websites page called “In the Media” is especially helpful to me because it’s all about the uprise against banning books and censoring books in the media. There are articles and documents all about what’s being done and said about censoring and banning books. Justin Stanley created “Uprise Books” to inform people about the issue of banned books and to get people involved in the uprise against the banning books. The website is a combination of facts and opinions which are very helpful.   

Stanley, Justin. (2011). In the Media. Retrieved from: http://www.uprisebooks.org/about/in-the-media/

1. www.eff.com

This website is very helpful because it’s all about defining our rights in the “digital world” which also includes the banning and censoring of books online. I found the page about CIPA (the Children’s Internet Protection Act) very interesting because it shows the pros and cons of censoring/banning books (i.e. knowledge). Rainey Reitman created this information to help people understand the causes and effects, both good and bad, of censoring/banning information (books) in spite of age. The information is an appropriate mix of facts and opinions.    

Reitman, Rainey. (2013). The Cost of Censorship in Libraries: 10 Years Under the Children’s Internet Protection Act. Retrieved from: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/09/cost-censorship-libraries-10-years-under-childrens-internet-protection-act

1. www.ala.org

A.L.A. stands for American Library Association. This source was immediately interesting to me because it’s about specifically American library issues. “The American Library Association (ALA) is the oldest and largest library association in the world, providing association information, news, events, and advocacy resources for members, librarians, and library users.” (From the ALA.org’s “About ALA” page). Therefore this information is reliable and vested in the same interests as my topic.  

(2013). Intellectual Freedom and Censorship. Retrieved from: http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=basics&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=60610

Pathfinder Reference Resources

Reference source entry #1:

• Name of the reference source: Encyclopedia of International Media and Communications
• Title of the reference entry: Books [specifically the section titled “B. Attacks on books”]
• Where I found it: Credo Reference
• Brief summary for choosing this article:

This reference source’s publication date is 2003, ten years old. The source is from an encyclopedia, rather trustworthy. The information seems unbiased and is accurate. There is no use of slang or offensive terms. There doesn’t really seem to be an intended audience but the level of language and intent is more on the advanced side. This reference source is from an encyclopedia centered around international media and communications, and the particular section I’m interested in is about attacks on books, banned books, which is the subject of my Pathfinder. This article is quite informative about the origins and contents of the subject of banned books.      

• APA citation 

Books. (2003). In Encyclopedia of International Media and Communications. Retrieved from

http://www.credoreference.com/entry/estimc/books

Reference source entry #2:

• Name of the reference source: World of Criminal Justice, Gale 
• Title of the reference entry: Censorship  
• Where I found it: Credo Reference
• Brief summary for choosing this article:

This reference source’s publication date is 2002, eleven years old. The article is from a credible source. The author/publisher is an expert in their field. The information seems to be unbiased and is accurate. The author does not use slang or offensive terms. There doesn’t really seem to be an intended audience but the level of language and intent is more on the advanced side. This article is from a criminal justice side of things. It describes what censorship is and how   when censorship is an issue, competing rights are at stake. It takes a look from both side of the problem which could really help with my topic.

• APA citation:

Censorship. (2002). In World of Criminal Justice, Gale. Retrieved from

http://www.credoreference.com/entry/worldcrims/censorship

Reference source entry #3:

• Name of the reference source: Encyclopedia of American Studies 
• Title of the reference entry: Censorship 
• Where I found it: Credo Reference
• Brief summary for choosing this article:

This reference source’s publication date is 2010, very up to date. The article is from a credible source, an encyclopedia. The “authority” of the article is good; the authors/publishers seem to be experts in their field. The information seems to be unbiased and accurate. There is no use of slang of offensive terms used in this source. There doesn’t really seem to be an intended audience but the level of the language and intent is more on the advanced side. The article is short and sweet and to the point which is helpful. The article also focuses on censorship in American studies which would be very helpful to me. 

• APA citation: 

Censorship. (2010). In Encyclopedia of American Studies. Retrieved from 

http://www.credoreference.com/entry/jhueas/censorship

Pathfinder Journal Articles

1. Publication: Children’s Literature in Education. Title of article: “‘Not Censorship but Selection’: Censorship and/as Prizing.” Found using Academic Search Premier.

“Abstract: This essay calls for a fresh critical approach to the topic of censorship, suggesting that anticensorship efforts, while important and necessary, function much like literary prizing. The analysis draws especially on James English’s recent study The Economy of Prestige. There are two central arguments: first, that the librarian ethic of “selection”––introduced by Lester Asheim in 1953 as a counterpoint to censorship––has contributed to the unfortunate construction of the censor as a “moron”; and second, that anticensorship efforts more generally tend toward uncritical canon-making, attributing value to books simply because they’ve been censored or (more typically) challenged.”

Kidd, K. (2009). “Not Censorship but Selection”: Censorship and/as Prizing. Children's Literature In Education, 40(3), 197-216. doi:10.1007/s10583-008-9078-4

2. Publication: None could be found. Title of article: “Banned Books and Their Universal Availability.” Found using Academic Search Premier.

“Abstract: An essay is presented about efforts by the American Library Association (ALA) to promote banned books in the U.S. According to the author, the banned books being promoted by the ALA are readily available almost anywhere in the U.S. The Banned Books Proclamation made by the association every Banned Books Week is examined.”

Banned Books and Their Universal Availability. (2008). Journal of Access Services, 5(4), 597-609. doi:10.1080/15367960802175067

3. Publication: Community and Junior College Libraries. Title of article: “To Read or Not to Read: Understanding Book Censorship.” Found using Academic Search Premier.

“Abstract: The controversy involving the challenge and possible banning of books has existed since the first person set pen to paper. These challenges have historically been based upon political and religious differences, but as time has passed, have become increasingly more to do with sex, race and culture. With these issues facing libraries, the role of the librarian, or library media specialist, has been that of an advocate of basic freedoms in expression, intellect and the right to read. Several organizations have also stepped up to the plate to inform and protect these rights. Works, considered classics by many, have been up for debate, brought through the legal system, and have been placed on banned books lists by many establishments. Only through education, communication and empowerment can the issue of censorship be resolved.”

CONNELLY, D. S. (2009). To Read or Not To Read: Understanding Book Censorship. Community & Junior College Libraries, 15(2), 83-90. doi:10.1080/02763910902832222

Pathfinder Introduction

                I chose “Censorship in libraries and banned books” as my Pathfinder topic. I chose this topic because I feel that it is something that isn’t talked about enough. This topic interests me because I care very deeply about our freedoms and rights as Americans and preserving and protecting them. I feel that censorship in libraries and banned books are a direct attack on our rights. Things like censorship in libraries and banned books are limiting our right to obtain and read what we want, and to learn and obtain whatever knowledge we want at will. 

I’m hoping to learn a lot with the research I will be conducting on the topic of “Censorship in libraries and banned books.” I hope to learn and therefore be able to explain why books are being banned and why libraries are being censored; which books are being banned and why; what’s allowing these things, the progress of them, what’s being done to continue it and to stop it, etc.