scholarly journals Important Factors in Midwestern Public Librarians’ Views on Intellectual Freedom and Collection Development: Part 2

2019 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-172
Author(s):  
Shannon M. Oltmann
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Freedom ◽  
Collection Development ◽  
Public Librarians

scholarly journals Public Librarians Reflect Belief in Intellectual Freedom through Collection Development Activities

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 82
Author(s):  
Melissa Goertzen
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
The State ◽  
Intellectual Freedom ◽  
Collection Development ◽  
Online Data ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Public Librarians ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Political Variables

A Review of: Oltmann, S. M. (2016). Public Librarians' Views on Collection Development and Censorship. Collection Management, 41(1), 23-44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01462679.2015.1117998 Objective – To examine public librarians’ perspectives on censorship and intellectual freedom in relation to collection development activities. Design – Survey combining questions from previous studies by Moody (2004) and Harkovitch, Hirst and Loomis (2003) with additional questions regarding intellectual freedom and demographics. Setting – Public libraries in the State of Ohio. Subjects – 251 directors and librarians responsible for collection development. Methods – The researcher created a survey in Qualtrics, a software that supports online data collection and analysis. It contained thirty-two structured and open-ended questions and took approximately 15-25 minutes to complete. To recruit participants, an explanatory letter and survey link were sent to every public library director in the State of Ohio. Directors were also asked to share the survey with librarians under their leadership who were responsible for collection development. To analyze the data set, cross-tabulations were run to identify statistically significant correlations between demographic and community variables. Main Results – The response rate was 43% (108 out of 251). Participants agreed with the American Library Association’s (ALA) definition of intellectual freedom, and to build collections that neither promote nor suppress specific ideas or beliefs. Only 3.7% of respondents reported decisions not to purchase materials due to fear of negative feedback from the community. Nearly 40% of participants reported conflict between personal and professional values at some time. All said that this dilemma had no bearing on professional collection development decisions. Contrary to anecdotal evidence that suggests librarians in rural or conservative communities are less likely to purchase controversial materials, the researcher found that community and political variables were not statistically significant; across the board, participants were most concerned with building balanced, well-developed collections. Gender, however, was statistically significant in terms of pressures felt to restrict access to materials; male librarians reported a higher number of instances where they felt internal or external pressures of this nature. However, as the number of male respondents was relatively low (15 out of 108 participants), the researcher did not draw concrete conclusions as to why this discrepancy exists. Conclusion – Study findings demonstrate a strong professional allegiance to intellectual freedom as defined by the ALA. In a practical sense, the participant group applied the principles of intellectual freedom to collection development activities regardless of demographic, community, or political variables.

Bums, Poops, and Pees: A Scholarly Examination of Why Children Love and Adults Censor the Scatological in Children’s Books

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Curry
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Freedom ◽  
Children's Books ◽  
Children’S Books ◽  
Important Place ◽  
Non Fiction ◽  
Public Librarians ◽  
Library Collections

Interviews with Canadian children’s public librarians reveal that they believe fiction and non-fiction scatological content has an important place in library collections, that children have an intellectual freedom right to access this material, and that adults have many misconceptions about the role of library collections and the development of juvenile humour.Des entrevues auprès de bibliothécaires jeunesses au Canada révèlent qu’ils croient que le contenu scatologique dans les documents de fiction et de non-fiction a sa place dans les collections en bibliothèque, que les enfants ont un droit intellectuel d’accès à ce type de matériel et que les adultes ont de nombreuses fausses idées quant au rôle des collections en bibliothèque et au développement d’un sens de l’humour juvénile.

scholarly journals Holocaust Denial Literature Twenty Years Later: A Follow-up Investigation of Public Librarians' Attitudes Regarding Acquisition and Access

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Drobnicki
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Intellectual Freedom ◽  
Nassau County ◽  
Holocaust Denial ◽  
The Holocaust ◽  
Similar Survey ◽  
Ready Access ◽  
Public Librarians

This study was undertaken to learn about public librarians' attitudes and opinions concerning the sometimes conflicting issues of intellectual freedom, collection balance, and controversial materials, and whether those attitudes and opinions have changed over twenty years. The investigation focused on Holocaust denial literature, a body of work which ranges from minimizing the Holocaust to outright denying that it happened. Public librarians in Nassau County, New York, were surveyed, and the results were compared with a similar survey from 1992. The results indicate that librarians are even more open to Holocaust denial literature than they were twenty years ago and, regardless of outside pressures, would acquire and provide ready access to this material in their libraries.

scholarly journals Survey Applies Public Collection Development Librarians' Support for Intellectual Freedom to Collection Process

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 245-247
Author(s):  
Laura Costello
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
External Pressure ◽  
Intellectual Freedom ◽  
Collection Development ◽  
Professional Beliefs ◽  
Policy Practice ◽  
Library Funding

A Review of: Oltmann, S. M. (2019). Important factors in Midwestern public librarians’ views on intellectual freedom and collection development: Part 2. The Library Quarterly, 89(2), 156-172. https://doi.org/10.1086/702203 Abstract Objective – To explore how librarian attitudes regarding intellectual freedom and demographic factors influence collection development decisions.  Design – Online survey. Setting – Public libraries in the Midwestern United States. Subjects – 645 collection development library professionals employed in public libraries. Methods – An electronic survey was distributed to 3,018 public library directors in nine Midwestern states and completed by the library professional primarily responsible for collection development (Oltmann, 2019, p. 6). The survey had a 21.37% response rate. The survey focused on intellectual freedom in the management of collections and probed the participants for their experiences and influences in making collection development decisions. The survey also asked participants to make hypothetical purchasing and holdings decisions for library materials based on a short description of the material. Main Results – Participants indicated that they used a variety of different tools for the selection of materials including patron requests. Of the participants, 45.7% indicated that their library had a policy, practice, or metric to assess the balance of their collections, while 54.3% indicated that their libraries did not have policy or method in place for ensuring that their collection was balanced. Of the respondents, 73.4% felt that local community values should be considered in collection development decision, but 62.3% said that this should not be the most important factor in decisions. Overall, the political leaning of the community did not have an impact on participants’ alignment with the ALA's stances on intellectual freedom. Most respondents (73.4%) felt that government library funding bodies should have an influence over collection development decisions. Some respondents indicated they felt internal pressure from other library staff or the library board to purchase particular materials (28.1%) or relocate materials (14.1%). Respondents also indicated that they felt external pressure from their communities to purchase (32%) or restrict or withdraw (19.1%) materials. In the hypothetical purchasing scenario, most librarians indicated that they would purchase the majority of items. Some participants (39.8%) felt tension between their personal and professional views on intellectual freedom. Conclusion – The first part of this article found that holding an MLS degree had a significant impact on participants' stance on intellectual freedom and alignment with the American Library Association (ALA) principles. This part indicated that they also felt greater pressure to withdraw, acquire, and manage particular materials in their collections and felt more tension between their personal and professional stances on intellectual freedom. Age, gender, duration of work, and community political affiliations significantly impacted only some of the participants' responses. Overall, there was general support for intellectual freedom and alignment with the ALA principles; however, 40% of respondents indicated tension between their personal and professional beliefs about intellectual freedom. 

Faith-informed intellectual freedom: an annotated bibliography

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 48-53
Author(s):  
Denise Rachel Gehring
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Annotated Bibliography ◽  
Intellectual Freedom ◽  
Collection Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Development Policies ◽  
Christian Institutions ◽  
Faith Based Institutions

Purpose The purpose of this annotated bibliography is to show perspectives on intellectual freedom from literature that provides approaches for librarians in faith-based institutions. The articles reviewed in this annotated bibliography will assist both Christian and secular librarians in selecting library materials. Design/methodology/approach The author identified sources using LISTA, ATLA and other common library databases. Sources were selected from 1993 to the present, focusing on sources that are on the application of intellectual freedom in the Christian academic library and/or librarian. Findings Best (2010) discusses censorship in academic libraries based on the top ten most-challenged books in 2007 which have research implications for Christian institutions. Johnson (2002), Davis (2002) and Smith (2004) offer library recommendations based on the review of the literature and their own practice. Hippenhammer (1993/1994) presents survey data and findings on collection development policies and intellectual freedom from Christian libraries. Matacio (2003) shares quantitative research from Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) libraries applicable to other Christian institutions. Research limitations/implications The majority of the research on intellectual freedom and Christian librarianship is from 10 or more years ago. Originality/value This annotated bibliography is a starting point for research that could be conducted to help in the evaluation of Christian academic library’s collection development policy.

scholarly journals Beyond obscenity: an analysis of sexual discourse in LIS educational texts

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Hill ◽  
Marni Harrington
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Intellectual Freedom ◽  
Collection Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sexual Discourse ◽  
Different Types ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Widespread Interest ◽  
Highly Cited

Purpose – This research seeks to discover the type of discourse encouraged around controversial materials, particularly those of a sexual nature, in LIS educational texts. Censorship and controversial materials are often issues addressed in the LIS literature, but even with ideals of neutrality it can be difficult to remain balanced on certain issues, particularly those dealing with sex. Design/methodology/approach – A content analysis of 85 LIS texts on collection development, reference, and intellectual freedom was completed using the following thematic elements: sex, pornography, erotica, curiosa, facetiae, obscenity, censorship, and controversial materials. Deeper analysis of individual definitions and usages was informed by Michel Foucault's perspective that education “follows the well-trodden battle lines of social conflict. Every educational system is a political means of maintaining or of modifying the appropriation of discourse” (Foucault, 1972, p. 227). Findings – Findings from the investigation indicate that LIS texts are predominately pejorative when discussing sexual topics such as erotica and pornography. Few texts provide distinctions between different types or genres of sexual materials. Research limitations/implications – The majority of texts analyzed for this study were published in the USA and hence have an American bias. This bias necessitated the use of American legal terminology and a reliance on American Library Association guidelines for examination purposes. The emphasis on American terminology may limit the applicability of the results outside of North America. Originality/value – Sex is one of the most highly cited reasons for challenges to materials in libraries. At the same time the mainstream popularity of the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy has created a new, widespread interest in the publishing, reading, and collecting of erotica. An understanding of how these texts are defined and identified in the LIS literature provides greater understanding of the discipline's biases.

scholarly journals Survey Confirms Strong Support for Intellectual Freedom in Public Collection Development Librarians

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 135-137
Author(s):  
Laura Costello
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Master's Degree ◽  
Library Science ◽  
Intellectual Freedom ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Collection Development ◽  
Personal Beliefs ◽  
Electronic Survey ◽  
Widespread Agreement ◽  
Master’S Degree

A Review of: Oltmann, S. M. (2019). Important Factors in Midwestern Public Librarians’ Views on Intellectual Freedom and Collection Development: Part 1. The Library Quarterly, 89(1), 2-15. https://doi.org/10.1086/700659 Abstract Objective – The article sought to explore whether librarian attitudes regarding intellectual freedom conform to the stance of the American Library Association (ALA). Design – Electronic survey. Setting – Public libraries in the Midwestern United States. Subjects – Subjects were 645 collection development library professionals employed in public libraries. Methods – An electronic survey was distributed to public library directors in nine Midwestern states and was completed by the library professional primarily responsible for collection development. The survey focused on community information and probed the participants for their stances on several intellectual freedom topics.  Main Results – The survey was sent to 3,018 participants via each state’s librarian and had a response rate of 21.37%. The first section of the survey focused on broad strokes statements representing the ALA’s stance on intellectual freedom for public libraries. The results revealed widespread agreement on these issues. More than 88% of participants agreed with statements like “public libraries should provide their clients with access to information from a variety of sources.” Despite strong agreement among participants, particular demographic characteristics were more likely to lead to disagreement with all statements including working in rural communities and not holding a master’s degree in library science. The next section of the survey focused on how strongly participants’ personal beliefs conformed to the intellectual freedom statements in the ALA’s Library Code of Ethics. Again, there was widespread agreement, with 94.9% of participants indicating that they agreed with the statement “we uphold the principles of intellectual freedom and resist all efforts to censor library materials.” Only one participant disagreed with the statement “it is the right of every individual to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction.” When asked whether the ALA’s stance on intellectual freedom ever conflicted with their personal beliefs, 39.8% of participants indicated that it did, 22% were unsure, and 40% had never experienced conflict. Participants holding a master's degree in library science and librarians in large cities were less likely to experience conflict between their personal beliefs and the ALA’s stance on intellectual freedom. In the free text comments, several participants indicated that they experienced conflict when the ALA’s stance did not reflect their personal beliefs or community values. Conclusion – While the overwhelming majority of respondents indicated that they agreed with the ALA’s stance on intellectual freedom, a minority of participants experienced some conflict. Respondents indicated that personal belief could create conflict when librarians committed to intellectual freedom were required to make choices in their professional work that conflicted with their own views. Conflict could also arise when collection choices made to support intellectual freedom were not supported by patrons in the community.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document