This document records testimony from a hearing held to examine combating graphic, explicit content in school libraries to protect kids. Member statements were presented by: (1) Honorable Aaron Bean, Chairman, Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education; and (2) Honorable Suzanne Bonamici, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on…

School librarians regularly face difficult intellectual freedom questions. Is it a good idea to put grade- or reading-level labels on the outside of books or use labels to determine what students should read? Do children have First Amendment rights? The ALA "Intellectual Freedom Manual" provides answers and guidance. The…

What do school librarians fear most? Hands down, their biggest fear is a formal challenge to a resource in the school library. There are no accurate statistics about the number of challenges to school library resources. The staff of ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom estimates that only about 20 percent are reported to ALA annually. For the…

The article is divided into three sections. The main section, "Filtering beyond CIPA: Consequences of and Alternatives to Overfiltering in Schools" (Kristen Batch) describes factors that contribute to the overimplementation of CIPA. Internet filtering is a routine practice in public schools and libraries. The Children's Internet…

Access to information is an essential art of the educational system. The reality is, however, that there are laws and policies in effect that can restrict what information is available to students and teachers in K-12 schools. Selection policies, Acceptable Use Policies, Circulation Policies, as well as federal laws and acts, all place…

In compliance with Section 59-31-10 of the 1976 School Laws of South Carolina, this document provides a bibliography of standard lists that media specialists, teachers, and administrators may use as a guide for reviewing and selecting instructional materials for elementary and secondary public school library media centers. Sources of selection…

A regional library model policy statement on circulation of potentially controversial materials to school districts is presented. The procedure utilized to make service areas aware of these materials and to facilitate communication between principals and the regional library on how these materials will be dispensed to teachers is also presented.…

This document reports on a study tour of Canadian schools conducted by the Sri Lanka Ministry of Education. The purposes of the tour were to: develop an awareness of the scope of modern school library programming; investigate the aspects of implementation of a modern school library program including staffing, facilities, educational programming,…

Discusses censorship of the arts and humanities in libraries. Highlights include statistics regarding school and school library challenges; reactions to controversial art in public places; Madonna's book "Sex" and the resulting protests; and what librarians can do, including materials selection policies. (LRW)

Discusses the effects of the creation-evolution controversy on school libraries. Addresses two main questions: (1) whether a school library is required to purchase or accept donations of books presenting "creation science" or "arguments against evolution"; and (2) how to evaluate the appropriateness of creationist books. (WRM)

Describes how to use effective signage, or visual guidance, for more efficient use of CD-ROM technology in elementary and secondary school library media centers. Setting CD-ROM policies and procedures is considered; the use of posters, brochures, flowcharts, and other formats is discussed; and examples are included. (LRW)

Describes and critiques emerging issues about Internet access in schools and school libraries. Discusses software products for filtering and rating expressive content on the Internet, reader-response-theory implications for filtering and rating Internet content, ambiguities, and the role of school librarians and acceptable-use policies. (AEF)

Reviews the technological, political, professional, and educational issues associated with filtering or blocking access to electronic information. Suggests strategies for handling the unique situations that might arise in school libraries and outlines age-appropriate alternatives to filtering. (AEF)

Discusses the issue of intellectual freedom as it relates to videotape collections and the free circulation of tapes to patrons, particularly children. Research on the effects on children of viewing violence is reviewed briefly. Development of a procedure for handling complaints and clear guidelines for children's access to videos are recommended.…

Reviews the literature in library and information science to identify factors that influence the outcome of challenges to school library materials. A conceptual model is developed that encompasses district selection policy, librarian characteristics, school environment, community environment, and initiator of the challenge, and tentative…