[ISLMA-Share] Challenged Book

Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association islma at list.railslibraries.info
Fri Sep 30 08:29:28 CDT 2016


I wish you well and support you in this important stand, Nancy. While I respect her Christian values and her taking an active role in her son’s growth and learning, those values can’t dictate the content of the shelves in any public school’s library.

I’m reminded of Clare Booth Luce’s perfectly worded summation of situations like this: “Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; but unlike charity, it should end there.”

I can’t possibly improve on that flawless statement.

Have a great Friday and weekend, everyone!

Michael Dorsam
Teacher/Librarian
Boiler Media
National Honor Society Adviser
Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School
700 W. North St.
Bradley, IL 60915
(815) 937-3707, ext. 6063 or 6061
Currently Reading: One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”
                                                                              -- Muhammad Ali

From: islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info [mailto:islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info] On Behalf Of Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2016 7:31 AM
To: islma at list.railslibraries.info
Subject: Re: [ISLMA-Share] Challenged Book

Thank you all for your responses!  The parent submitted the challenge form citing her Christian values wouldn't allow this book on the shelf and still wanted to buy it.  I stood my ground and said a committee of three teachers and the principal would review the book and make the determination.  I also told her that our collection development policy does not call for purchase of the book.  She hasn't responded back. Interestingly enough, her son came into check out books and picked up one on vampires.  Last year, he checked out a whole bunch of books which were similar.  I'm not sure she knows what he has checked out unless he takes the books home.
Thanks again!
Nancy

On Thu, Sep 29, 2016 at 2:59 PM, Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:islma at list.railslibraries.info>> wrote:
I had a book challenge two years ago.  We went through our entire process up to the School Board meeting...lawyers and all.  Just follow your guidelines. I don't recommend removing it just by parent request, unless you want that to become the standard procedure, which will open up a new can of worms.

The ALA was fabulous help for me.  Mine was a graphic novel, so I also contact the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund which was extremely helpful.

Feel free to email me off list if you need help: ahamernick at orland135.org<mailto:ahamernick at orland135.org>

On Thu, Sep 29, 2016 at 11:33 AM, Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:islma at list.railslibraries.info>> wrote:
This is probably not the right way to handle it, but I would let her buy it, then use the money to buy another one to replace it. Her keeping/buying the copy doesn’t remove it permanently from the shelves if she hasn’t gone through the challenge process. She can request you not allow her daughter to check out that book again, but she doesn’t decide for the whole school.  Ask your admin for support. Also ALA has an Intellectual Freedom office that can provide you additional support through the process.

Lauren Ochs
Media Specialist
Mahomet-Seymour High School
ISLMA Standards Function Rep.
lochs at ms.k12.il.us<mailto:lochs at ms.k12.il.us>



From: islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info> [mailto:islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info>] On Behalf Of Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association
Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2016 11:23 AM
To: islma at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:islma at list.railslibraries.info>
Subject: [ISLMA-Share] Challenged Book

I am interested in how others handle challenged books.  I have a parent who is adamant about purchasing the book to get it off the shelf.  I gave her a copy of our collection development policy which calls for a committee to review the book and then make a determination.  It does not specify anywhere that the parent can purchase the book if they don't like the contents.  For now, I have taken the book off the shelf.  In the last year, her child has brought home books about zombies, vampires, and other weird happenings and she hasn't said a word.  I just wonder if she didn't see those books, but saw this one on witches and reacted.  Any thoughts?
Nancy Genteman
Highland CUSD#5
Highland, IL

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--
Sincerely,
Amy Hamernick
Teacher Librarian
Century Jr. High
@AhamernickCJH
#CenturyWildcats


"If we always do what we've always done,
we will get what we've always got."
~Adam Urbanski~

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