Banned Books Week, the Freedom to Read, and Canadian Libraries
September 27, 2020
Today is the first day of Banned Books Week in the United States. As is the case each year, Canadians can expect to see coverage in the media about attempts to censor books in American libraries and schools. The American Library Association (ALA) estimates that this coverage reaches an estimated 2.8 billion readers.
Much of the coverage is based on work done by the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF), in particular their annual compilation of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books. Published since 2001, the lists are based on information from media stories and voluntary reports submitted to the OIF from across the US.
Challenges in Canada
While much of the focus is often on American cases, it can be easy to forget that the Canadian library community has been documenting similar challenges since 2006.
Started by the Canadian Library Association and now administered by the Canadian Federation of Library Associations, the Intellectual Freedom Challenges Survey gathers information about the nature and outcome of challenges experienced in each calendar year by publicly-funded libraries across Canada to their materials and policies.
Did your library experience challenges to materials, resources, services, or policies in 2019?
The CFLA Intellectual Freedom Committee encourages members of the Canadian library community to report details of intellectual freedom challenges at their institutions before October 31 for incidents occuring between January 1 and December 31, 2019.
Challenges could include disputes about Internet access, meeting rooms, speakers, library displays, exhibitions, or other matters that would prevent or restrict access to collections, services, or other resources.
The results of the Survey will be shared with the Canadian library community as well as the Freedom of Expression Committee of the Book and Periodical Council and the Office of Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association (ALA OIF).
Background
The Annual Challenges Survey was initiated for the Canadian Library Association in 2006 by Dr. Toni Samek, Professor of Library and Information Studies, University of Alberta, who was then Convenor of the CLA Intellectual Freedom Advisory Committee. The primary goal of the Annual Challenges Survey was to gather information about the nature and outcome of challenges experienced in each calendar year by publicly-funded libraries across Canada to their materials and policies. Data from the survey help to inform the Association’s policy and advocacy work for intellectual freedom on behalf of the CLA membership.
The Canadian survey was inspired by two precursors, the Edmonton Public Library’s in-house challenged materials spreadsheet, and the confidential database maintained since 1990 by the American Library Association (ALA).
The survey was renamed the Intellectual Freedom Challenges Survey when responsibility for its administration was transferred to the Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA).
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