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YALSA Intellectual Freedom Resources

Intellectual freedom, and its related issues, censorship, access, and intellectual property rights, has always been fundamental to library services in the United States. All librarians need a working understanding of both sides of these complex issues. No one Web page or bibliography can hope to cover the subject. This list should provide a starting point

If you're faced with a challenge, please read our page on Dealing with Challenges of Young Adult Materials.

Immediate Help

Immediate help with challenges can be obtained by contacting ALA’s Office of Intellectual Freedom (OIF). For assistance, contact Deborah Caldwell-Stone, 800-545-2433, ext. 4224, or OIF, Office for Intellectual Freedom, 800-545-2433, ext. 4223. Also contact your state library association for local assistance.

Selected Books on Intellectual Freedom

Becker, Beverley C. and Susan Stan. Hit List for Children 2: Frequently Challenged Books. Chicago: ALA, 2002.

Blume, Judy, ed. Places I Never Meant to Be: Original Stories by Censored Writers. New York: Simon & Schuster for Young Readers, 1999.

Doyle, Robert P., comp. Banned Books: 2007 Resource Guide. Chicago: ALA, 2007.

Lesesne, Teri S. and Rosemary Chance. Hit List for Young Adults 2: Frequently Challenged Books. Chicago: ALA, 2002.

Lord, Catherine. Defending Access with Confidence: A Practical Workshop on Intellectual Freedom. Chicago: PLA, 2005.

ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom.  Intellectual Freedom Manual, Seventh Edition. Chicago: ALA, 2006.

Reichman, Henry. Censorship and Selection: Issues and Answers for Schools. 3rd Edition. Chicago: ALA, 2001.

Scales, Pat R. Teaching Banned Books. Chicago: ALA, 2001.

Online Resources

ALA Resources

ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom
Note: Contains an extensive list of First Amendment advocates and resources.

ALA Banned Books Week

ALA's Library Bill of Rights and its Interpretations

ALA Library Code of Ethics

OIF's Guide to Dealing with Challenges

Other Online Resources

Authors Support Intellectual Freedom

Ethics in Computing
administered by Dr. Edward F. Gehringer

Intellectual Freedom Bibliography (.pdf file; Adobe Reader required)
compiled by Stephanie Michel, IFC

LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund
provides monetary assistance to librarians punished for defending intellectual freedom

National Coalition against Censorship

National Council of Teachers of English