Year after year a majority of the titles on ALA’s Banned Books list, which compiles titles threatened with censorship, are either YA books or adult books that are frequently read by teens. It’s important for YA librarians to understand the types of challenges occurring in libraries around the nation and to be ready to deal with such challenges when they occur. The Young Adult Library Services (YALSA) has tailored this book specifically for these situations, providing much-needed guidance on the highly charged topic of intellectual freedom for teens. Among the issues addressed areHow to prepare yourself and your staff for potential challenges by developing a thoughtful selection policy and response planResources for help when a challenge occursThe art of crafting a defense for a challenged book, and pointers for effectively disseminating your response through the press and social mediaThe latest on intellectual freedom in the digital realm, including an examination of library technologyUsing examples of censorship battles in both school and public libraries to illustrate possible scenarios, this guidebook gives YA librarians the foreknowledge and support to ensure intellectual freedom for teens.
