"Report Censorship" Toolkit
The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) encourages library workers and educators to amplify the "Report Censorship" message. Article III of the Library Bill of Rights states, “Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.” The information gathered from these reports helps OIF:
- Stay on top of trends
- Supply library workers crucial tools, resources, workshops, and programs
- Compile the Top 10 Most Challenged Books list and trend reports for public awareness
Challenges, bans, or access issues can be reported using this form. Below are tools to encourage colleagues to report censorship incidents.
Take Action
- Submit a reporting form to share what materials or services were challenged or censored. All personal and institutional information submitted via this form is kept confidential.
- Add a graphic to your newsletter or website
- Post on social media or retweet OIF
- Share the ALA press release or blog post "Should I Report Censorship?"
- Email a professional listserv (Here’s a sample email you can customize and a few e-list ideas.)
Sample Social Media Posts
The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom @OIF encourages everyone to report any and all challenges to materials, online resources (including databases), programs, speakers, displays, reading lists, and author visits. No matter is too insignificant. https://www.oif.ala.org/oif/?p=23612
Give back by speaking up. Share your 2021 censorship reports to help @OIF respond to censorship trends: http://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/report
What books made the Top 10 Most Challenged Books list in 2021? Help us find out by sharing censorship incidents that happened in your library or school: http://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/report
Article III of the Library Bill of Rights states, “Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.” Report censorship with @OIF to defend the rights of readers. Deadline 12/31/2021. http://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/report
Not all challenges are to ink and paper — some have to do with URLs and mouse-clicks. Has your library/school received a challenge to a database or LibGuide? Please share your story using our online form: http://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/report
82-97% of challenges remain unreported. Report censorship to @OIF. All personal identifying information is kept strictly confidential unless you give us permission to share. http://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/report
Has your library or school received:
► A request to cancel a program
► A complaint about a display or exhibit
► A public comment at a school board meeting about a resource
Report these cases to OIF confidentially to help other professionals: http://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/report
Listserv Ideas
Below are some ideas on who to reach out to via email. Even if you aren’t personally subscribed to a list, you may know someone who could post on your behalf.
- Institutional all staff, learning communities, or professional committee lists
- County, district, or system lists
- State association leadership, members, or sections
- Interest groups for public, academic or school librarians lists
- Interest lists for graphic novels, youth, programming, reference, or specific topics lists
- Faculty in library schools, teacher organizations, civil liberties groups, advocacy, state libraries, or educational network lists
Retweet and Share
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