<div dir="ltr">Leah,<div>In addition to the excellent advice shared by others, I would like to add a reminder that it is not our jobs as librarians to draft eloquent persuasive essays in defense of challenged books. I would suggest communicating information including published reviews from reputable sources (School Library Journal, Booklist, etc.), awards the books have won, gaps in the collection the books address, and connections between the books and curriculum/standards. You can also add to the books' defense a reminder that professional organizations such as ALA oppose censorship and support the right of readers to choose what they read, and that while not every book is for every reader, all readers--regardless of race/gender identity/sexual orientation/religion/age/politics/etc.--should have the right to access books that meet their needs/wants. <div><br></div><div>And if you can manage, do report those challenges to ALA's Office for Intellectual freedom! (Even if you don't consult with them for support, which I also recommend, data on book challenges is valuable to their work.) <a href="https://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/report" target="_blank">https://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/report</a></div><div><br></div><div>Standing in solidarity with you.</div></div><div>Sylvia Allen (she/her)</div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, Jan 25, 2022 at 11:56 AM Leah Krippner via AISLE <<a href="mailto:aisle@list.railslibraries.info" target="_blank">aisle@list.railslibraries.info</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">So I am finally in the crosshairs. If any of you have already drafted an eloquent defense of any of these works, if you could share it off list, I would be most appreciative. I got handed eight (8) challenge forms yesterday. Drowning.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><div class="gmail_default">Perez. <i><b>Out of Darkness</b></i></div><div class="gmail_default">Evison. <i><b>Lawn Boy: A Novel</b></i></div><div class="gmail_default">Jackson. <i><b>Monday's Not Coming: A Novel</b></i></div><div class="gmail_default">Kuklin. <i><b>Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out</b></i></div><div class="gmail_default">Kobabe. <i><b>Gender Queer: A Memoir</b></i></div><div class="gmail_default">Sanchez. <i><b>I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter</b></i></div><div class="gmail_default">Sones. <b><i>Opposite of Innocent</i></b></div><div class="gmail_default">Morrison. <b><i>The Bluest Eye</i></b></div><div class="gmail_default">Kobabe. <b><i>Gender Queer</i></b></div><div class="gmail_default"><b><i><br></i></b></div><div class="gmail_default"><a href="mailto:leah.krippner@harlem122.org" target="_blank">leah.krippner@harlem122.org</a></div></div><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><br><div>--</div><div>Leah Krippner</div><div>Pronouns: she/her<br><div>Librarian, Harlem High School</div><div>Currently Reading: <b><i>1984: The Graphic Novel</i></b>, adapted and illustrated by Fido Nesti<br></div></div><div><a href="https://sites.google.com/harlem122.org/hhs/Harlem-High-School/IMC?authuser=0" target="_blank">Library Website</a></div><div><br></div><div><img src="https://content.app-us1.com/Mb3XP/2021/12/13/03a6776c-695f-497b-89bb-18e5e7437215.png?r=1327613698" width="96" height="96"><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><div style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><hr></div><div style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><b><font size="2">This message, and any attachments to it, may contain information that is privileged, confidential, and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use, dissemination, distribution, copying, or communication of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail and delete the message and any attachments. Thank you.</font></b></div></div>MAILMAN_MIMEDEFANG<br>
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<a href="https://www.aisled.org/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.aisled.org/</a></blockquote></div></div><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><font color="#0000ff"><b>Mrs. Sylvia Allen (she/her)</b></font><div><div><b><font color="#0000ff">District Librarian</font></b></div><div><b>Blue Ridge CUSD #18</b></div></div><div><b>(309) 928-2622</b></div><div><b><font color="#999999">#br_u_knighted</font></b></div></div></div>