Destiny Discover
Organizations
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National Coalition Against CensorshipEvery generation of Americans faces new and significant challenges to free expression. For almost 50 years, NCAC has acted as a first responder to protect this freedom, which is both a fundamental human right and a keystone of democracy in the ever-changing American nation. We promote freedom of thought and inquiry and oppose censorship. When controversy occurs, we encourage and facilitate dialogue between divergent voices and perspectives, including those that have historically been silenced.
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What are Book Ban Busters?See an interactive map of recently challenged and banned books across the country, as well as ideas to get involved. Hear from authors as they speak out against the banning of their works!
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What is America's Banned in the USA?PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. This report documents the increase in both the number of books banned and the intense focus on books that relate to communities of color and LGBTQ+ subjects over the past nine months.
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What is the Office for Intellectual Freedom?Established December 1, 1967, the Office for Intellectual Freedom is charged with implementing ALA policies concerning the concept of intellectual freedom as embodied in the Library Bill of Rights, the Association’s basic policy on free access to libraries and library materials. The goal of the office is to educate librarians and the general public about the nature and importance of intellectual freedom in libraries.
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What is Unite Against Book Bans?Unite Against Book Bans is a national initiative to empower readers everywhere to stand together in the fight against censorship.
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What is United for Libraries?United for Libraries is a group focused on the advocacy of public libraries through the support and continuing education of Library Friends, as well as Trustees and Advocates.
National and Local News Resources
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Behind the Nationwide Rise of Book BansStanford University Article, The Stanford Daily
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Book Ban Efforts Continued To Soar, Set Record Highs In 2023: ReportHuffington Post Article
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New State Laws Are Fueling a Surge in Book BansThe New York Times
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What You Can’t Read Behind Bars in New YorkNew York Focus
The Law and Policy of Books Bans
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Cases and LegislationSeptember 22-28, 2024 is Banned Books Week. This guide from the University of San Diego collects court cases, legislation, and other resources related to the freedom to read.
Databases
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'Knowledge is power': new app helps US teens read books banned in school; Digital Public Public Library fights back against rightwing censorship with resource that works through geo-targeting."'Knowledge is power': new app helps US teens read books banned in school; Digital Public Public Library fights back against rightwing censorship with resource that works through geo-targeting." Guardian [London, England], 18 Aug. 2023, p. NA. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A761416799/OVIC?u=nysl_me_nyc72_bh&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=7bf5d09c. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
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Advocating for Libraries and the Freedom to Read.Corsillo, Gretchen. "Advocating for Libraries and the Freedom to Read." Public Libraries, vol. 63, no. 5, Sept.-Oct. 2024, pp. 10+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A812754429/GPS?u=nysl_me_nyc72_bh&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=32f83374. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
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A Brief History of Comic Book CensorshipGabriel, David Jay. "A Brief History of Comic Book Censorship." Censorship, edited by Kate Burns, Greenhaven Press, 2004. Contemporary Issues Companion. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010266205/OVIC?u=nysl_me_nyc72_bh&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=c7e6310a. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024. Originally published as "A Brief History of First Amendment Issues in Comic Books," www.nyccomicbookmuseum.org, 2001.
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Fighting Censorship Is a Proud American TraditionMyrick, Svante. "Fighting Censorship Is a Proud American Tradition." Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2024. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/UHWGHB491457584/OVIC?u=nysl_me_nyc72_bh&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=4fc62f8d. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024. Originally published as "Fighting Censorship Is a Proud American Tradition," Otherwords.org, 28 June 2023.
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The Lynx Watch Fights Book Bans.New York Times best-selling author of Fates and Furies (Riverhead Books, 2015), Matrix (Riverhead Books, 2021) Lauren Groff opens a bookstore to fight against book bans.
Ferber, Brenda. "The Lynx Watch Fights Book Bans." Poets & Writers Magazine, vol. 52, no. 6, Nov.-Dec. 2024, pp. 16+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A812235042/GPS?u=nysl_me_nyc72_bh&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=b192880c. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024. -
Remembering Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451: why his pioneering critique of censorship remains relevant today; None."Remembering Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451: why his pioneering critique of censorship remains relevant today; None." Indian Express [New Delhi, India], 24 Aug. 2024, p. NA. Gale OneFile: News, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A805952034/GPS?u=nysl_me_nyc72_bh&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=41957588. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
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SEEKING SANCTUARY: Public libraries establish themselves as book sanctuaries to counter bans.Finkel, Ed. "SEEKING SANCTUARY: Public libraries establish themselves as book sanctuaries to counter bans." American Libraries, vol. 55, no. 6, June 2024, pp. 24+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A799249460/GPS?u=nysl_me_nyc72_bh&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=277bf4a9. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
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South Carolina to Launch Biggest Censorship Campaign YetOlmsted, Edith. "South Carolina to Launch Biggest Censorship Campaign Yet." Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2024. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/PMKUEY255503539/OVIC?u=nysl_me_nyc72_bh&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=e4deab9c. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024. Originally published as "South Carolina to Launch Biggest Censorship Campaign Yet," The New Republic, 24 June 2024.
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Challenging Heteronormativity: Raising LGBTQ Awareness in a High School English Language Arts ClassroomBurke, Brianna R., and Kristina Greenfield. “Challenging Heteronormativity: Raising LGBTQ Awareness in a High School English Language Arts Classroom.” The English Journal, vol. 105, no. 6, 2016, pp. 46–51. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26359254. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.
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Facing the Issues: Challenges, Censorship, and Reflection through DialogueReLeah Cossett Lent provides practical advice for ensuring that books are kept on shelves and in classrooms for students to read. She outlines steps for creating professional learning communities that engage with censorship issues and prepare schools to deal with book challenges in thoughtful, supportive ways.
Lent, ReLeah Cossett. “Facing the Issues: Challenges, Censorship, and Reflection through Dialogue.” The English Journal, vol. 97, no. 3, 2008, pp. 61–66. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/30046833. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.
Print Resources
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Book Banning and Other Forms of Censorship
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Call Number: 363.31 LAIISBN: 9781680782837Publication Date: 2016-08-15 -
Opposing Censorship in Public Schools
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Call Number: 379.2 EDWISBN: 0805825460Publication Date: 1997-12-01 -
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Censored and Banned Literature
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Call Number: 098.1 CENISBN: 9781642650280Publication Date: 2019-05-30 -
Author Responses
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Authors Speak Out Against Attempts to Ban Their BooksNowThis Impact Interview with Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
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Jacqueline Woodson on Navigating Book Bans and Staying Resilient in 2025Brittany K. Allen Talks to the National Book Award-Winning Author About the Struggle to Come
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Author Julia Alvarez Addresses Banning of Her Book by Tillamook School DistrictJulia Alvarez, author of How the García Girls Lost Their Accents
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Marley DiasAuthor and Activist Marley Dias campaigns to bring bring more diverse reads with Black protagonists to bookstores and libraries across the country. #1000BlackGirlBooks
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My book faces a statewide ban in South Carolina. Here's why that matters.Author Elana K. Arnold responds to an attempted ban on her novel Damsel across all grade levels.
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Queer author Abdi Nazemian on anti-LGBTQ+ book bans & outingAbdi Nazemian is an Iranian-American Stonewall Award Winning Author who write stories centered around queer Iranian teenagers.
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Standing Up for Freedom: Kurt Vonnegut’s Unyielding Defense Against Book CensorshipKurt Vonnegut's Letter to the Drake School Board (1973) in response to book burning of Slaughterhouse-Five.