Why You Can't “Censorproof” Your Public Library
Alvin M. Schrader · Public Library Quarterly · 1997
Because there is considerable pressure on public librarians to censor materials in their collections, it is no wonder that some staff will go to almost any lengths to avoid challenges, criticism, and controversy over which titles and which kinds of materials should be made available to their communities. Nevertheless, while these reactions are quite understandable, a close reading of recent censorship research suggests that they are not solutions. The purpose of this article is to explore the reasons why this kind of avoidance behavior-“censorproofing”-is eventually doomed to failure, and to suggest alternative strategies that might make more effective use of the time, energy, imagination, and resources of public library staff.