1 Intellectual Freedom Shari Wickline Final EDT-732 Overview The challenge I located was in the ALA Intellectual Freedom

m Newsletter. It was about two books that were donated to the Wasilla Public Library in 2008. Wasilla Library is in the town of Wasilla, Alaska and is where the ex-vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin was mayor. Due to the towns controversy around censorship I was able to find articles about the donated books and other censorship issues, in the towns newspaper the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman. According to the articles this is a past issue that was brought into the spot light during 1996. The librarian at the time, Mary Ellen Emmons, was also the president of Alaskas Library Association. The librarian felt that she was being questioned about whether she would overlook attempts at censorship from community officials. She was asked directly if she could live with censorship of library books, during which time community officials were giving their resignations (Frontiersman, 2008). She said she could not justify removing books based on just requests, she stated she would need to follow the proper protocol (Frontiersman, 1996). It was years later during the ALAs Banned Book Week in September 2008 that two books about homosexuality were donated to the Wasilla Public Library by. The controversy over the donated books once again brought the libraries polices on censorship into question. The donated books were Heather has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman and Daddys Roommate by Michael Willhoite. When KJ MartinAlbright, the librarian at the time, was questioned about whether the books would be placed on library shelves she stated that there are two options within the libraries policy on what to do with donated books (Frontiersman, 2008). The book will either be placed on the shelves or given to the Friends of the Library to be sold. The factors they look at when determining if a book will be placed in circulation is the authors reputation, importance of subject matter and available shelf space Frontiersman, 2008). It was determined in early October, 2008 that the books were not high enough quality to be placed on the

2 shelves of the library. The librarian stated it was not the content, but the quality of the books (Frontiersman, 2008). It was said that the books were poorly constructed and lacked engaging illustrations and content that would hold a childs attention (Frontiersman, 2008). It was never disclosed who else, other than the librarian, made the decisions about donated books. The library had also banned a book prior to this titled Pastor; I am Gay by Howard Bess, a local author and minister. The librarian Martin-Albright was quoted saying, anything in the library has to earn its real estate (Frontiersman, 2008). After more research I found that the Wasilla Public Library only has two books on related topics for children and fifteen titles for young adults. The Wasilla public schools do not have any items at the elementary level, three young adult items in the middle school and thirty five young adult items at the high school level. Personal Review of Books I was able to obtain a copy of both books from Wright State Universitys Dunbar Library childrens collection. The books were not available at the local libraries near my home and were quite difficult to find in public or school libraries. I read both books and enjoyed them for different reasons. The books Heather has Two Mommies was geared toward upper elementary students, or younger if was to teach social acceptance of a peer. The book focuses on the desire a married couple has to have a child and the process of artificial conception that some parents must go through to fulfill this dream. It shows the longing of a couple to have a child and the love of a family once that desire is fulfilled. It shows no difference in the challenges of what a heterosexual couple would face if one was not able to traditionally conceive. I enjoyed the way it showed Heathers first day at preschool, and how every childs family is different. It showed how she felt different because she had two mommies but after a class discussion she learned that some children had two mommies, two daddies, one parent or were adopted. Every child in the book felt different because their family was not considered the norm, in some

3 way. It was a wonderful tribute that was written, by request, to show a families courage and love of their daughter. I did find the illustrations to be simple but charming. I think that might be the only thing that may not hold the interest of a child when reading the book. The other book Daddys Roommate was very simple and upbeat. It was geared towards younger children at around a first grade reading level. It would be easy for someone to read the book to a class or for a child to read on their own. The story was written through the eyes of a young boy. It showed how he viewed the divorce of his parent, and the relationship his father had with his roommate. It was full of love and positive experiences. The book does have a sequel about the boys daddy and his roommate getting married. The relationship portrayed in the book was more positive than most heterosexual children get to experience. Although the books main topic is homosexuality the book shows how divorce and a parents new relationship can be positive. I thought the illustration were good. I liked how the pictures could be used to tell the story. They showed how a family unit works together to make a home whether the parents are heterosexual or homosexual. Policy and Procedures for a Challenge The ALAs School Library and Media Center policies and procedures guideline to collection development was used when assessing the validity of the censorship of these two books. I am aware that the censorship case was through a public library but the community is small and what affects the public adversely affects the schools. According to the collection development policy a library should promote intellectual freedom of all students and community members no matter what the views of the librarian or community officials. When a book is to be challenged it is critical that steps be followed systematically in dealing with the concerns, whether it originates form the staff, parent, students or community member (ALA, 2011). It is important that a detailed, set policy be in place and that it is reviewed and revised every three years, to accommodate the changing needs of the students (ALA, 2011). A librarian needs to be nonbiased when selecting books to add to the collection. Decisions about selection and reevaluation

4 should not be made because of the nature of the topic (ALA, 2011). Challenging of a book must be done following a predetermined set of guidelines. The challenges need to be submitted in writing through the proper chains. Parents, students and community members have the right to questions librarians about particular material, but they do not have the write to verbal demand an item be removed or restricted without going through the proper steps (ALA, 2011). It is important to remember that following the policies and procedures that are in place assure that the retention rate of the challenged material is higher. Being receptive and understanding to the concerns of those challenging the material is critical. With the case of the Wasilla Public Library having one person decide whether a donated item is deemed suitable to be placed on the shelves is unfair. The books were never challenged in writing and the policies and procedures for restricting a book were unclear. The wording of the policy gave all the decision making power to a limited number of individuals that biasedly determine what is good real estate for their library. ALA/AASLs Stance on Related Issues According to the ALAs Out in the Library, material related to homosexual, transgender and bisexual issues are still the most challenged of all material (ALA, 2011). They provide a list of resources to assist a librarian with the inclusion of materials focusing on these topics. It is sometimes easier for a library or librarian to omit materials on these issues rather than deal with the challenges. The Library Bill of Rights states that Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation (ALA policy 53.1.5) and "Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval (ALA policy 53.11.1, 53.1.9 and 53.1.11).

Implications for Collection Development and Larger Community There are many implications for a collection if a book is banned. Having a challenged book become banned takes an individuals right to intellectual freedom away. If material about a particular topic is removed it does not allow the collection to meet the needs of all users. This needs to be considered when a book is being challenged. It makes it hard to justify adding similar material to a collection if a book on that topic had been previously banned. The implications not only affect the diversity of the collection but it affects the rights of the community of library users. It is downplaying an issue or topic that may not interest one individual but may be essential knowledge for someone else to know about. If a book becomes banned due to content what is stops the others like it from being challenged and removed as well. When there is merit for why a book should be in a collection than that needs to supersede an individuals personal bias, especially with childrens books. Not every family has the same beliefs and children need to know that how they live and others live is okay. Banning a book due to content silently alienates beliefs, values and life style choices that some children have a hard enough time relating to or accepting.

References

American Library Association. (2011). Out in the library: materials, displays and services for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community Chicago, IL: Author. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/iftoolkits/glbttoolkit/glbttoolkit.cfm American Library Association. (2011). School library media centers and intellectual freedom Chicago, IL: Author. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/iftoolkits/ifmanual/fifthediti American Library Association. (2011). Access to library resources and services regardless of sex, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual Orientation Chicago, IL: Author. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/Access%20to %20Library%20Re.pdf Rovito, M. (2008, September 23). Gay-lesbian titles donated to wasilla library. Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman. Retrieved from http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/208/09/23/local_news/doc48d Rovito, M. (2008, October 16). Gay life book donation did not make cut at local library. Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman. Retrieved from http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/2088/10/16/local_news/doc48f Stuart, P. (2008, September, 12). From the archive: Palin: Library censorship inquires rhetorical. Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman. Retrieved from http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/2008/09/12/breaking_news/doc Newman, L. (1989). Heather has two mommies. Los Angeles, CA: Alyson Publications Inc. Willhoite, M. (1990). Daddys roommate. Los Angeles, CA: Alyson Publications Inc. (2009). Wasilla library rejects donated titles. Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom, 58(1), 3. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.libraries.wright.edu:2048/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?hi d=11&sid=8b17e93d-47d5-49a1-898f-8246ae2208a0%40sessionmgr11&vid=9