Courtney S’s Reviews > Young Adult Literature in Action: A Librarian's Guide > Status Update

"Often just the threat of a challenge is sufficient for some school officials to pull a book from the shelves or even from the curriculum. It is every librarian's duty to deal with challenges and to fight censorship and maintain the integrity of his or her collections."

"To some educators it may seem odd to celebrate books that are controversial, but the idea is to celebrate young adults' freedom to read. By focusing on books that have been challenged or have been banned from school or public libraries, we encourage the defense of young adults' right to read."

"Think of the term 'intellectual freedom' as a large umbrella. Underneath that umbrella we find both negative actions (censoring, banning, challenging, labeling, and reconsideration) and positive actions (selecting, reading freely)."

"We know that the freedom to read is a right granted to citizens of the
United States through the freedoms of the First Amendment to the Constitution. That freedom is granted to children and teenagers, articulated in 'Students' Right to Read' by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and in 'Library Bill of Rights,' adopted by the ALA."

"The American Library Association (ALA) defines intellectual freedom as '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.'"

"Entice readers with novels and then show them how an informational book can deepen their understanding of the novel. If readers are only interested in informational books, show them how they can read a historical novel and be a detective by checking the facts of the story."

"It's all about the technology available in libraries, meaning it's all about funding. Databases can be double the cost of print sources, but they do allow libraries to serve patrons well by broadening availability and access to digital materials."

"Readers can learn from fiction about
their options in life, such as ways to handle emotional situations. Readers of informational book can gain facts about the world, but for some, maybe
many readers, learning information about the world is entertainment as
well."

"Biographies and memoirs allow young adult readers to vicariously experience other people's lives and historical periods. Those experiences can add another dimension to their understanding of human nature and human history.”

"Fantasy often features a character or a creature to add humor and relieve tension or despair."