[LM_NET] SHARE: Challenged Books, Rationales for

[Kathy Reel <kathy502@AOL.COM>]

  As I was thinking about this issue of challenged books and censorship, I realized 
that there were some resources I should share with LM-netters. Of course, most of 
you might already be familiar with these sources. The American Library Association 
has much information on dealing with book challenges. Two slim, but useful ALA 
publications are Hit List For Children 2: Frequently Challenged Books published in 
conjunction with the Office for Intellectual Freedom of the American Library 
Association and Hit List For Young Adults 2: Frequently Challenged Books published 
in conjunction with YALSA. Published in 2002, both of these books contain 
rationales for frequently challenged books on the children's level and the young 
adult level. The Young Adult book also contains important bibliographies on topics 
of challenged books and intellectual freedom, along with tips for dealing with 
censorship and selection, how to write a book rationale, a copy of the ALA Library 
Bill of Rights, an!
 d the NCTE's Freedom to Read. 
 
 The NCTE, National Council of Teachers of English, has two CDs available for 
purchase--Rationales for Challenged Books and Rationales for Challenged Books, 
Volume 2. These CDs deal primarily with middle school and high school titles and 
each CD contains rationales for over 100 frequently challenged titles. Rationales 
are important to have in dealing with any challenge. We have to be able to defend a 
book's value. According to the Hit List for Young Adults, a book rationale should 
consist of the following information: "summary of content, use of content in 
educational setting or as recreational reading, awards and honors won by the book, 
reviews of the book, potential objections to the book, and alternative works which 
might be read in place of this book" (p. 58). If we are to fight for a book's right 
to be on the shelf, we must be prepared with the documentation to do so. 
 
 Kathy Reel
 Former English/Writing Teacher
 New Librarian Looking for Job
 Owensboro, KY
  
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