Intellectual Freedom Basics from the American Library Association. Provides a discussion of why books are banned or challenged, along with lists of the most frequently challenged authors and titles.
The Students' Right to Read from the National Council of Teachers of English. Includes examples of the reasons behind book challenges, a discussion of a student's right to read, the threat of censorship to education, and a sample form that could be used in a challenge situation.
Censorship: Don't Let It Become an Issue in Your Schools from the National Council of Teachers of English. The sections on forms of censorship, formal complaints and how to handle them, and factors to be considered in selecting materials may be of particular interest.
NOW: The Controversy over Children's Literature. This PBS news show dealt with censorship of children's literature using examples from the work of Maurice Sendak, author of Where the Wild Things Are. Also lists some reasons why books are challenged.
Forbidden Library: Banned and Challenged Books. Search this list of banned and challenged books by author or title. The site's author says "The details listed below are excerpts taken from the Banned Books Resource Guide by the American Library Association, and Ready Reference Censorship, Copyright 1997, Salem Press (ed. Lawrence Amey et al.). In some cases, my own pithy comments have been added."
Illinois Library Association - download the PDF files of the past four years' lists of challenged/banned books, including reasons why they were challenged.
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JCMS Library Home PageLast Updated: 09/22/08
Kristina McGlaun, Librarian
Jackson Creek Middle School