Rayanne Lepisto

September 25th, 2018

I really enjoyed the readings this week. Before reading the readings, I wasn’t 100% sure what
my role as a librarian was in regards to these issues. I answered as honestly as possible in
regards to what I thought was the most appropriate response to the situation. The readings
definitely brought awareness to the controversial issues that school libraries face. One in
particular was the issue a challenger wanting to censor material from others in the library
because the material is offensive to the challenger. It is also interesting that despite this, the
other patrons have a right to know about the material and access it if they wish. I really like the
idea that having the challenger read the information fully and then signing a form that this task
was completed is a really valuable way to respect both parties. I also feel better knowing that
there are ways for a librarian to receive help to find a way to resolve the issue.
I agree that the informational material should not be censored--such as information about a
historical event. Students should not be censored from information about a historical event. If all
information about history or other events is censored, how are children supposed to learn from
the mistakes of history? They are the future of society. I think that this is where there can be a
compromise. Perhaps a form can be signed by the student before accessing the information;
this form can be an acknowledgement that the librarian talked to the student and let them know
that some material may be violent/disturbing.
I also think that there should be things in place to protect minors from seeing pornographic
material or violent imagery. Parents can feel comfortable knowing that their students will not be
viewing this type of inappropriate material. This is the type of filtering and security that I agree
with for students. There was a point made in the article “ What is intellectual freedom?” that
brought up the point on whether “filtering de-emphasizes education as the best means of
teaching students to be smart and safe while using the internet, and it gives educators a false
sense of security” (AASL. (2012)). However, I think that students should be protected from this
type of material. Educators should not lie to students that that content exists, but this is an area
where students can be educated about appropriate use of the internet. Again students need to
be taught internet safety. We cannot sweep problems under the rug and pretend as if they do
not exist. Perhaps an educational class can be required for students?
Maturity levels and needs of the students must be met in regards to material. This does not
mean barring students from information. This means that if a student’s first language is not
English for example, a library must do their best to provide accommodations for that student to
have access to the same information as other students—just in a different language. The
student should not be censored from accessing information just because they need the
information provided in another language. It is also important to not be choosing materials or
excluding materials from the community due to personal beliefs or perceptions. I did not think
about this very much prior to the readings. I didn’t think that I had the right to exclude material,
however I thought it would be the duty of a librarian to protect students. My perception of this
has since changed; and I feel that my eyes have been opened. A quote that stood out to me in
particular from the reading was:
“The school library plays a unique role in promoting, protecting, and educating
about intellectual freedom. [The library] serves as a point of voluntary access to information and
ideas and as a learning laboratory for students as they acquire critical thinking and
problem-solving skills needed in a pluralistic society. Although the educational level and
program of a school necessarily shape the resources and services of a school library, the
principles of the American Library Association’s ​Library Bill of Rights​ apply equally to all
libraries,including school libraries. Under these principles, all students have equitable access to
library facilities, resources, and instructional programs” (ALA. (2014)).

I think that this quote really states the importance of having material in the library not censored.
It is not our job to control what people want to learn about. This would only hinder their learning;
and to be quite honest, it would harm society to try to block someone from material because
someone else is offended. I am not saying that all information on the internet should be freely
accessed whenever and to whomever regardless of age. I am talking about information about
history, controversial issues, and etc. I am not talking about pornographic material or other
illegal information. I think that barring someone from learning about opposite opinions of an
issue is hindering their learning. We, as librarians, must remember and help student learn.

Now if there was a younger student that wanted to learn about a historical event that was very
violent for a project, what is your approach on this? This an area where I am not sure what is
the best solution. I do not want to bar a student from information, but what is the best way to
respect that the student wants to learn, but also help protect them from a negative impact on
their mental state at a young age? Should there be an age limit required to access that
information---or is this yet another way that bars people from information?

References:
1. AASL. (2012). What is intellectual freedom? Retrieved from
http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/aaslissues/intellectual_freedom_br
ochure0212.pdf

2. ALA. (2014). Access to resources and services in the school library: An interpretation of
the library bill of rights. Retrieved from
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/accessresources