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  • BLOG HOME
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Events

    Battle of the Banned Books

    by Guest Author March 16, 2022
    written by Guest Author

    This post was written by SLIS student Kelsey Cameron

    Intellectual Freedom

    These and other books will be going head-to-head to see which is the UofA’s favourite banned book

    Throughout history, books have been challenged and even banned in Canada and around the world in schools, libraries, and bookstores. Today, libraries are unlikely places for this to occur due to the banning of books going against intellectual freedom as defined by the American Library Association (ALA):

    “Intellectual freedom is the right of every individual to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction. It provides for free access to all expressions of ideas through which any and all sides of a question, cause or movement may be explored” (American Library Association, 2007).

    In Canada specifically, the Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA) promotes intellectual freedom as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This includes the “freedoms to hold opinions and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers” (Canadian Federation of Library Associations, 2019).

    Despite intellectual freedom being recognized in libraries across Canada and the United States, books and other media are still challenged and in other institutions such as schools. When challenges to books are successful, they can be banned from the organization that was challenged and thus removed from the shelves.

    Why are Books Challenged?

    It is important to remember that books are challenged for many reasons. No one group of people is responsible for every banned book as there are so many different reasons that may lead to the challenge of a book. Despite the spectrum of reasons as to why a book may be challenged, there are a few that stand out due to how often they occur. These are mainly topics that may be deemed to be inappropriate for the community an organization is serving, such as sexually explicit content, profanity, violence, drug and alcohol use, or simply books that “go against the values of the community” (ALA, 2022)

    Each year, the American Library Association Office of Intellectual Freedom releases a list of the ten most challenged books of that year and the reasons they were challenged. The 2021 list has yet to be released but in 2020 the main reasons for challenging books included LGBTQIA+ content, profanity, anti-police views, and racial slurs & racist stereotypes. There is definitely a visible pattern between the themes of challenged books and the current events of the world. This is why intellectual freedom is especially important. Books pertaining to current events can help one to understand a different perspective, or to learn more about what is going on in the world. At the University of Alberta, the dedicated group that advocates against censorship and for intellectual freedom is Future Librarians for Intellectual Freedom, or FLIF.

    Future Librarians for Intellectual Freedom

    FLIF is a student group at the University of Alberta that has three main goals. We advocate against censorship, encourage freedom of expression, and encourage social responsibility. We hold events throughout the year to help us achieve our goals.

    The next FLIF event is a fun way to bring awareness to some books that have been challenged in the past. Banned Books March Madness will take place starting on March 24th on our social media sites. Our followers will be able to participate in polls to vote for their favourite banned book out of 16 that we have chosen to feature. The books featured range from classics such as A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway, to our favourite childhood reads like the Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, to more recent novels such as The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.

    Follow FLIF on social media to know when to participate in this event!

    Twitter: @FLIF_UofA

    Instagram: flif_uofa

    More information on banned books

    https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10

    https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/30/books/book-ban-us-schools.html 
    https://flifualberta.wordpress.com/

    March 16, 2022 0 comment
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  • Augustana Library Celebrates its 25th human library

    by Guest Author March 22, 2021
    by Guest Author March 22, 2021

    “Storytelling is a part of our history, and while books offer us an endless supply of knowledge and adventures, being able to take part in the unique setting of a human library, is an experience like no other. The courage that you witness while you listen first hand to the experiences of the ‘authors’ is not only humbling, but life changing. I am honored and forever grateful to have had the opportunity…

  • Activism for a Black Future

    by Amy Southgate February 16, 2021
    by Amy Southgate February 16, 2021

    This year we have been taking a different approach to Black History Month at the library, by shifting our focus from the past to looking towards a Black Future. The road towards a Black Future can seem long and impassable, but there is reason to embrace optimism! This collection features works on contemporary activist movements that can serve as both a map and inspiration on our journey towards an equitable society. Activism…

  • Afrofuturism for Black History Month

    by Meredith Bratland February 2, 2021
    by Meredith Bratland February 2, 2021

    Culture aficionados rejoice – today, we’re talking Afrofuturism as part of our look at Black Futures for Black History Month. Afrofuturism is special as it reimagines the future but it also reflects on the past of the African diaspora. Afrofuturism, a term coined by Mark Dery in 1993 in his interview article “Black to the Future“, has evolved over time in African American culture and describes creative works that focus on African…

  • Dogs in the Library (The Virtual Edition)

    by Erin Sanderman October 14, 2020
    by Erin Sanderman October 14, 2020

    Breaking news! Our canine pals at CAAWLS have entered the digital realm and we are hosting a special virtual Dogs in the Library session. Join us on October 29 between 12:00-2:00pm MST to visit with the pups and their humans in CAAWLS’ zoom meeting room. Come take a quick study break, or stay the whole two hours (after all, who can resist those cuties?). The meeting can be accessed at the link…

  • Up your library game with Workshops

    by Erin Sanderman September 18, 2020
    by Erin Sanderman September 18, 2020

    We get it. Navigating the intricacies of the library isn’t easy. Finding information and making use of the library’s resources is a skill that takes time to develop, but we’re here to help support you on your academic journey. On top of general assistance you can access through chat and email reference, and foundational library skill tutorials that you can access online at your leisure, the Library offers workshops throughout the school…

  • Two Ways to Study a Mysterious Manuscript: new workshop at BPSC

    by Hanne Pearce January 20, 2020
    by Hanne Pearce January 20, 2020

    It is amazing to imagine, but even in the 21st century, there is a book written in a language and script that scholars cannot understand. The Voynitch manuscript is a handwritten illustrated book, dated to the early 1400s. Named for Wilfred Voynitch, a book dealer who acquired the book from Jesuits priests in the early 20th century, the book is now owned by the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale. The manuscript…

  • Science Literacy Week 2018 – It’s gonna be a blast!

    by Guest Author September 10, 2018
    by Guest Author September 10, 2018

    Written by Lydia Thorn From September 17 – 21, the libraries are celebrating Science Literacy Week across the University of Alberta campus. The University of Alberta Libraries has partnered with Science Literacy Week, Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science and Technology (WISEST), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to bring a week full of science and space to the UAlberta community. There will be interactive events and presentations throughout the…

  • Fair Dealing Week 2018 Recap

    by Meredith Bratland May 7, 2018
    by Meredith Bratland May 7, 2018

    On February 28, 2018, the University of Alberta’s Copyright Office hosted a day-long event in celebration of Fair Dealing Week, an initiative by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL). More background information about the event is available here. The event featured four speakers from various disciplines, who talked about the impact and importance of Fair Dealing as a user right in the Canadian Copyright Act. “Fair Dealing on Trial” Speaker: Lisa Di…

  • Lana Button, Children’s Author and Educator, on the Power of the Picture Book Read-Aloud

    by Erin Sanderman April 18, 2018
    by Erin Sanderman April 18, 2018

    Please join us in the H.T. Coutts Education and Kinesiology, Sport & Recreation Library on Wednesday, May 9th at 9:30 AM for a presentation by author and early childhood educator Lana Button, showcasing her newest picture book, My Teacher’s Not Here! Lana’s lively presentations show her determination to spread the word that people are never too old for a picture book! In this 50 minute talk, Lana explores the challenge of choosing…

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