Your Name and Title: Dee Ann Venuto/Media Center Coordinator
Library, School, or Organization Name: Rancocas Valley Regional High School
Area of the World from Which You Will Present: New Jersey, USA
Language in Which You Will Present: English
Target Audience(s): Advocates/Movers & Shakers
Short Session Description (one line): A Call to Action: responding to organized book challenges & their role in a systematic threat to democracy
Full Session Description (as long as you would like):
Having experienced organized social, political, and sexual challenges in 2010 to LGBTQ materials and in 2013 to a Common Core recommended text, I became privy to the successful workings of groups who are determined “to remove all domestic enemies” in an effort “to protect and restore our constitutional freedoms” against “evil liberals who have infected our schools & government” and “indoctrinate” children. Fighting the challenge, I recognized the potential growth of a systematic plan which would undermine democracy, public education institutions and citizen’s rights. My worst fears have come to fruition in the last decade, and I feel compelled to share how the current onslaught of book bannings is part of the recent threat to democracy. Like others, my insight attempts to educate our populace about a librarian’s role in society and to solicit the assistance of those in positions of power, whose help we need to protect these institutions which exist to serve freedom and equality.
Websites / URLs Associated with Your Session:
ALA Presentation on 2010 Challenge
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