The Fight against Book Bans: Perspectives from the Field

by Shannon M. Oltmann (Editor)

Book bans and challenges frequently make the news, but when the reporting ends, how do we put them in context? The Fight against Book Bans captures the views of dozens of librarians and library science professors regarding the recent flood of book challenges across the United States, gathered in a comprehensive analysis of their impact and significance. It also serves as a guide to responding to challenges.

Chapter authors provide first-hand accounts of facing book challenges and describe how they have prepared for challenges, overcome opposition to certain books, and shown the value of specific library materials. Library science faculty with a range of specialties provide relevant background information to bolster these on-the-ground views. Together, the chapters both articulate the importance of intellectual freedom and demonstrate how to convey that significance to others in the community with passion and wisdom. This volume provides a timely and thorough overview of the complex issues surrounding the ongoing spate of book challenges faced by public and school libraries.

Genres: Nonfiction, Social Justice, Librarianship

256 pages, Paperback

Published June 30, 2023

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written book, written by librarians, about how to combat book bans. These book banners are often right wing conservatives that have been mobilized by conservative Republican politicians. The book banner groups include Mom's for Liberty, No Left Turn in Education, and Parents for Education. One key step in combatting book bans is to go public right away, by involving the media, community members, and other libraries.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A depressing and incredibly important book. A collection of essays on book banning and challenging; some are academic, some are personal. So worth reading for any librarian.

[mary rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

i first heard about this book through the podcast school librarians united because martha hickson, who authored a chapter of this book, was a guest on episode 199. i ordered it soon after, and finally got to read it at the end of december. for a book on such a topic, it was a fantastic read. it’s full of resources and organizations that can be helpful when faced with a challenge (and maybe a few antagonists to watch out for!), as well as steps for each part of the process and reflections from multiple school and public librarians about their most recent challenges. while it could feel a bit samey at times, that really drove home the fact that these challenges can and do happen everywhere. reading about the experiences of these professionals in a field i plan to enter helped me feel better about the inevitability of a challenge in my future space, because let’s face it, these challenges and the rhetoric behind them aren’t going anywhere. while they are intimidating to think about, this book will be one of the first places i go when i am responsible for my own collection and any backlash it may face. it is incredibly thorough and easy to digest, and i am so glad i got to read it.

this review is also available on instagram here!