Ideas

Extending Brooklyn Public Library’s Books Unbanned initiative to young kids and parents.

They care deeply and can't be fired. Retired librarians are bringing experience and passion to the cause of intellectual freedom. With advocacy skills training and opportunities to mentor, retirees could become even more powerful assets.

SLJ's most viewed coverage of book banning and censorship, which remained front and center in 2023.

Moms for Liberty has waged war on public education and democratic values, leveraging fear and disinformation. There are steps to take, including exercising your own First Amendment rights to uphold a just and equitable society.

While situations may differ, knowing your library display policy and garnering parental support are key steps, says free speech expert Pat Scales.

Summer reading is a whole new jam as SLJ and NCTE reveal the 2023 round of “Refreshing the Canon” selections. Check out these multimedia suggestions to enrich any reading experience of George Orwell's 1984, and change teenagers' minds about how "it could never happen here" and "it could never happen now." 

Censorship and the fight for intellectual freedom led our most viewed stories of the year, along with recommendations toward “Refreshing the Canon,” a joint project with NCTE.

In response to new legislation and customer requests, Follett was working on optional features that would allow parents to request to be notified what book their child has checked out of the library and limit their access to materials. They will no longer be creating those options.

In the main, awards season will celebrate honored books and their creators. Yet such a high-profile occasion presents a unique opportunity to celebrate and honor, too, the right of kids and teens to read and access content.