Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Scales on Censorship: Real Life Lessons from School Library Journal

Pat Scales has been a passionate advocate for intellectual freedom long before she launched the "Scales on Censorship" column with School Library Journal in 2006. Decades of experience as a school librarian informs her ongoing work on these important and often volatile issues, as did her tenure in leadership roles on the American Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Committee and at the Freedom To Read Foundation. It also earned her a place among the inaugural list of Library Journal's Movers & Shakers in 2002. Since her first column for SLJ she has been in an ongoing conversation of sorts with librarians, teachers, and parents-a much needed conversation. This collection of the wide-ranging questions from readers and Scales' informative answers are gathered in broad thematic groups to help readers explore the all-too daily reality of confronting efforts to censor, ban, or otherwise limit open and ready access to materials in our schools and libraries. They were all written in response to active book challenges or questions of intellectual freedom and library ethics. These columns have a ripped from the headlines immediacy even as they reflect the core values and policies of librarianship. They are organized by topic and each is framed with a brief new introductory essay. Scales' powerful reputation and practical ethically-based solutions has made her a key spokesperson and support for librarians working under a censorship siege. Her passionate, unwavering voice provides valuable strategic and tactical approaches to censorship, fine-tuned insight into individual books often challenged, and critical moral support for managing trying conversations. Scales is focused throughout on fostering a culture that embraces and understands the importance of intellectual freedom, and the tools to make it a reality every day in our libraries, schools, and communities. Learn from her to build a background in the ethics involved in defending intellectual freedom and lean on her for insights into real-life situations. Scales on Censorship is an essential ally in the ongoing fight. Review Supportive, thorough and direct, Scales on Censorship acts as an essential guide in making decisions that will benefit the collective whole. In many scenarios, Scales outlines both the positive and negative outcomes of various approaches to censorship, giving the reader the ability to follow the outlined approach or create a different approach to a similar situation. In replying to specific questions, Scales references a litany of internet resources, print sources, court cases, and personal experience. The reader could apply the above resources to a myriad of censorship issues outside of the specific questions Scales directly references in the book. In doing so, this book becomes an essential manual every educational leader should keep, reference, and address throughout the decision-making process.--VOYA About the Author Pat R. Scales has tirelessly worked as an advocate for children’s reading and intellectual freedom throughout her distinguished career. After working for more than twenty-five years for Greenville Middle School in Greenville, SC, Pat became the director of library and information services at the state’s Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities. Among her many professional activities, she has served as President of ALA’s Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), chaired the 2005 Arbuthnot Lecture Committee, 2003 Caldecott Award Selection Committee, 2001 Wilder Award Selection Committee, and 1992 Newbery Award Selection committee. Awarded the SCLA/SIRS Intellectual Freedom Award in 2001 and named one of the Movers & Shakers: People Changing the Future of Libraries by Library Journal in 2000, Pat continues to share her expertise with librarians around the world through her School library Journal Column, “Scales on Censorship.” Rebecca T. Miller has almost 20 years of editorial experience, and was n