Banned Websites Awareness Day

Banned Websites Awareness Day is celebrated to raise awareness of the overly restrictive blocking of legitimate, educational websites and academically useful social networking tools in schools and school libraries

Description & History

To raise awareness of the overly restrictive blocking of legitimate, educational websites and academically useful social networking tools in schools and school libraries, AASL has designated one day during Banned Books Week as Banned Websites Awareness Day. To mark the day, AASL asks school librarians and other educators to promote an awareness of how overly restrictive filtering affects student learning.

The next Banned Websites Awareness Day is Wednesday, September 25, 2024.

Background

Usually the public thinks of censorship in relation to books, however there is a growing censorship issue in schools and school libraries – overly restrictive filtering of educational websites reaching far beyond the requirements of the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Students, teachers, and school librarians in many schools are frustrated daily when they discover legitimate educational websites blocked by filtering software installed by their school.

Filtering websites does the next generation of digital citizens a disservice. Students must develop skills to evaluate information from all types of sources in multiple formats, including the Internet. Relying solely on filters does not teach young citizens how to be savvy searchers or how to evaluate the accuracy of information.

Over extensive filtering also extends to the use of online social networking sites such as FaceBook, Twitter, YouTube, Blogger, etc. In order to make school more relevant to students and enhance their learning experiences, educators need to be able to incorporate those same social interactions that are successful outside of school into authentic assignments in the school setting. Unfortunately, filters implemented by school districts also block many of the social networking sites.

Professional Learning Resources

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Intellectual Freedom related posts on Knowledge Quest

This collection of posts from AASL's Knowledge Quest extends past website filtering to include all types of intellectual freedom issues.

Don't Filter Me Project

The American Civil Liberties Union launched the Don’t Filter Me campaign in February of 2011 to prevent viewpoint-discriminatory censorship of positive LGBT web content in public schools nationwide. A final report on the campaign is available.

Don’t Leave Students in the Dark

This blog post written by Jamie Gregory for ALA's Office of Intellectual Freedom blog examines how different types of censorship create different types of darkness in our society.

Embed Codes and Library Web Sites

This AASL Knowledge Quest post from Becca Munson details why it is important to provide embedded resources for students to access on the school library's website. Becca also provides step-by-step instructions on finding and installing embed codes.

Guidelines to Minimize the Negative Effects of Internet Content Filters on Inte…

ALA's Office of Intellectual Freedom offers guidelines to provide school libraries with information about how to select, configure, manage, and assess content filters to minimize the negative effects on free inquiry and the learner privacy.

How Internet Filtering Hurts Kids

This article from The Atlantic (subscription may be required) covers how zealously blocking their access to certain websites can end up undermining learning.

Internet Filters

This resource from the National Coalition Against Censorship examines the problems of filters and provides steps to take if a school is filtering the internet.

Filtering beyond CIPA: Consequences of and Alternatives to Overfiltering in Sch…

This Knowledge Quest article written by Kristen R. Batch explores how filtering beyond CIPA’s requirements results in missed opportunities to prepare students to be responsible users, consumers, and producers of online content and resources.

Filtering Texas-Style: An Interview with Michael Gras and Scott Floyd

In this Knowledge Quest article, Helen Adams interviews Michael Gras and Scott Floyd from White Oak Independent School District (ISD) were among five presenters at a TLA session on filtering in K–12 schools.

Filtering and the First Amendment

Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, examines how schools engaged in censoring online information due to misunderstanding or misinterpreting CIPA and the Supreme Court decision upholding the law.

Minors and Online Activity: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights

The use of social media and online resources poses two compelling intellectual freedom issues for minors: the right to free expression and the right to privacy.

The Next Book Ban: States Aim to Limit Titles Students Can Search For

This article from the Washington Post looks at how lawmakers across the country are proposing legislation that would target online library databases and library management technology.

Learner Engagement Resources

Cyber Safety & Ethics Workshops

These programs from Savvy Cyber Kids gives children the “modern street smarts” that are required for digital safety – engaging with them on what they are experiencing and empowering them to be safe by making appropriate decisions in the online world.

Promotional Resources

The AASL Banned Websites Awareness Day logo is available for download and use by educational institutions, or by individuals for educational purposes, under the following guidelines:

The logo may not be altered. The user is permitted to resize the logo but all markings and the logo in its entirety must be maintained.
If the logo is used for any commercial product permission must be requested formally by contacting AASL.

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Promotional Partners

National Promotional Partners

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF)
National Association of State Educational Media Professionals (NASTEMP)
National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)

State Promotional Partners

Alaska Association of School Librarians (AkASL)
Connecticut Association of School Librarians (CASL)
Hawaii Association of School Librarians (HASL)
Illinois School Library Media Association (ISLMA)
Iowa Association of School Librarians (IASL)
Maryland Association of School Librarians (MASL)
Massachusetts School Library Association (MASL)
New Jersey Association of School Librarians (NJASL)
New York Library Association/Section of School Librarians (NYLA/SSL)
Ohio Educational Library Media Association (OELMA)
Pennsylvania School Librarians Association (PSLA)
South Carolina Association of School Librarians (SCASL)
Texas Association of School Librarians (TASL)
Wisconsin Educational Media Association (WEMTA)

For more information regarding BWAD Promotional Partners contact Allison Cline at acline@ala.org.