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ALA
In 2016, A Birthday Cake for George Washington was published, then pulled, by Scholastic. While created, illustrated, and edited by women of color, the book was strongly criticized because of its images of “smiling slaves.” Many people believe the book should never have been published and celebrate its removal from shelves. Others believe that intellectual freedom has been compromised.
For many years, intellectual freedom, a core value of librarianship and many colleagues in the publishing world, has looked to a near First Amendment absolutism. Today, a growing concern over the need for more diversity in publishing, a greater sensitivity to the abuses of power and privilege, has given rise to a stronger commitment in the field to social justice.
Are these values in conflict? Is one value replacing another? In an era of trigger warnings, revenge porn, and an emerging global community of new voices, what does IF mean today? What are our responsibilities as one generation of publishers and librarians begins to give way to another?
Engaging in the conversation and talkback will be Judy Platt of the Association of American Publishers and a Freedom to Read Foundation Roll of Honor awardee, and Katie Chamberlain Kritikos, the recipient of the 2016 Gordon M. Conable Conference Scholarship. James LaRue, director of ALA’s the Office for Intellectual Freedom will introduce the session.
Please come join this important conversation about the foundations and future of our profession.
Meeting Type: Program
Content Area: #IFTalkback
Interests: Advocacy, Intellectual Freedom, Young Adult Literature, Young Adult Services, Youth Services
Type of Library: Academic, Association, Community College, Consortium, Corporate, Elementary School, Federal, Government, High School, Information-related Organization, Joint Use, Law, Library School, Medical, Middle School, Museum, Native, Nonprofit, Other, Prison Library, Public, Regional System, Research Library, Retired, Rural, School/Media Center, Seeking Employment, Special, State Library, Student, Tribal, Undergraduate
Sponsors: ALA
Cost: Included with full conference registration.
Open/Close: Open
James LaRue
Illinois