[Publib] Fw: [ifaction] ALA releases statement on Alaska book banning controversy

[Karen Schneider]

Quite often ALA makes me want to tear my hair out (and my hair is very short
these days--that would be painful) and yet this is one of those times when I
am proud to wave my ALA card. This response strikes exactly the right note
and is carefully balanced.

I am sure Sara would join me in saying let's not insult one another about
our religious beliefs or anything else (cookie preferences are fair game...
though honestly, if I'm going to get rhapsodic over a cookie it will be my
pine-nut macaroons... a batch of which I'll send to anyone who builds us a
Wikipedia page based on the material from our PUBLIB website and anything
else they can gleam). We're all librarians and we need to get along and
respect one another. And not be so quick to make assumptions!

Karen/ PUBLIB co-moderator

On Wed, Sep 3, 2008 at 5:12 PM, Sue Kamm <suekamm at mindspring.com> wrote:

>
>
>
> -----Forwarded Message-----
> From: Nanette Perez
> Sent: Sep 3, 2008 5:07 PM
> To: ifaction at ala.org, ala-ifc at ala.org, ftrf-l at ala.org, ifrt-b at ala.org
> Subject: [ifaction] ALA releases statement on Alaska book banning
> controversy
>
>  The following statement has been approved  for distribution by  ALA
>  legal council and leadership.  Please post to relevant list servs.
>
>
>
>
>
> News
>
> For Immediate Release
>
>
>
> ALA PRESIDENT JIM RETTIG RELEASES STATEMENT ON CENSORSHIP
>
>
>
> Chicago - The American Library Association (ALA) opposes book banning and
>
> censorship in any form, and supports librarians whenever they resist
>
> censorship in their libraries.  Since our society is so diverse, libraries
> have a
>
> responsibility to provide materials that reflect the interests of all of
> their
>
> patrons.
>
>
>
> Each year, the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom receives hundreds of
>
> reports on books and other materials that were "challenged" (their removal
>
> from school or library shelves was requested). The ALA estimates the number
>
>
> reported represents only about a quarter of the actual challenges.
>
>
>
> In support of our efforts to fight censorship, the ALA annually celebrates
>
> Banned Books Week – a national celebration of the freedom to read.
>
> Observed during the last week of September each year, Banned Books Week
>
> reminds Americans not to take the precious democratic freedom to read for
>
> granted.  This year, Banned Books Week will take place September 27–
>
> October 4, 2008.
>
>
>
> The American Library Association is a nonprofit, 501(c) (3) educational
>
> association that supports quality library and information services and
> public
>
> access to information.  As such, it is not allowed to take a position on
>
> political candidates and strives to be nonpartisan in its activities.
>
>
>
> To learn more about book challenges and Banned Books Week please visit
>
> http://www.ala.org/bbooks
>
> ####
>
> Contacts:
>
> Macey Morales
>
> Manager Media Relations, ALA
>
> 312-280-4393
>
> mmorales at ala.org
>
>
>
> Jennifer Petersen
>
> PR Coordinator, ALA
>
> 312-280-5043
>
> jpetersen at ala.org
>
>
>
>
>
> Macey Morales
>
> Manager, Media Relations
>
> American Library Association
>
> 50 E. Huron
>
> Chicago, IL 60611
>
> 312-280-4393
>
> mmorales at ala.org
>
>
>
> Your friendly CyberGoddess and Councilor-at-large,
> Sue Kamm
> Inglewood/Los Angeles, CA
> Truest of the Blue, Los Angeles Dodgers Think Blue Week 2000
> Visit my blog:  http://suekamm.blogspot.com
> email:  suekamm [at] mindspring.com
> "High fly ball into right field ... she is gone!  In a year that has seemed so improbable, the impossible has happened!"
> - Vin Scully, describing Kirk Gibson's walk-off home run, Game 1, 1988 World Series
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> http://lists.webjunction.org/mailman/listinfo/publib
>
>


-- 
-- 
| Karen G. Schneider
| Community Librarian
| Equinox Software Inc. "The Evergreen Experts"
| Toll-free: 1.877.Open.ILS (1.877.673.6457) x712
| E-Mail/AIM: kgs at esilibrary.com
| Web: http://www.esilibrary.com
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