Censorship is often framed as a good faith debate in response to controversial books, rather than a political tool that both silences minoritized voices and lays the groundwork for controlling public institutions. The current pro-censorship movement has launched a well-coordinated national campaign to destabilize public schools, universities and libraries. Even if the current wave of challenges subsides, states are codifying the aims of this movement into laws and rolling back hard-won curricular progress at all levels of education. In this three-part series, hear from scholars, educators, and advocates who are working to turn the tide, in part by re-thinking how we can all respond more effectively to these attacks on our democracy. April 13th; April 18th; April 27, 2023 - (all 5pm, all virtual)
It’s Not About the Books: Goals (and Costs) of the Pro-Censorship Movement
Speaker: Allison Jennings-Roche, Towson University Lead Teaching & Learning Librarian and University of Maryland PhD Candidate in Information Studies
Allison Jennings-Roche's research offers perspective on the current censorship movement, placing it within historical trends and examining the ways in which the rhetoric of censorship operates, what's at stake when censorship is normalized and the ways in which libraries, librarians, and their supporters can work to counteract and delegitimize this rhetoric.
April 13, 2023, 5-6pm (VIDEO)
Panel on Censorship and Educational Gag Orders in K-12 U.S. Schools
Speakers: Sarah Miller, Mark Letcher and Pamela Mason, National Council of Teachers of English, Standing Committee Against Censorship; Sam LaFrance, The PEN America Foundation; Moderator: Miriam DesHarnais, Research & Instruction Librarian, Towson University
Learn more about educational gag orders and attempts to censor discussion, books, plays, curriculum and learning in schools nationwide. Panelists will share information for those preparing for careers in schools and libraries and offer sources of support for educators dealing with censorship challenges and gag orders. This panel is geared towards current and future educators & other professionals serving youth & families but is open to all TU community members.
April 18, 2023, 5-6pm (VIDEO)
Answering Censorship Challenges: EveryLibrary’s Fight for the First Initiative
Speaker: John Chrastka, Executive Director, EveryLibrary
In 2023, pro-library organization EveryLibrary launched Fight for the First, a full-scale digital organizing and advocacy site that provides training, networking, and organizing infrastructure to communities fighting local book bans. EveryLibrary co-founder John Chrastka will discuss who is using Fight for the First’s tools and what’s working in countering censorship.
April 27, 2023, 5-6pm (SLIDES)
