CENSORSHIPI N T E L L E C T U A LF R E E D O M A N D

RIGHT TO READ

D E F I N I T I O N S

The school library provides information and ideas to equip all members of

the school community (even teachers, administrators and parents) with

life-long learning skills, to become critical thinkers and effective users of

information in all formats and media, enabling them to live as responsible

citizens.

C E N S O R S H I P

SCHOOL LIBRARY

D E F I N I T I O N S

―Prohibition of the production, distribution, circulation, or display of a work

by a governing authority on grounds that it contains objectionable or

dangerous material. The person who decides what is to be prohibited is

called a censor. Commonly used methods include decree and confiscation,

legislation, repressive taxation, and licensing to grant or restrict the right to

publish.

(Reitz, ABC-CLIO online dictionary for LIS)

C E N S O R S H I P

CENSORSHIP

D E F I N I T I O N S

C E N S O R S H I P

INTELLECTUALFREEDOM

Intellectual Freedom is the right of every individual to both seek and receive

information from all points of view without restriction. It provides for free

access to all expressions of ideas through which any and all sides of a

question, cause or movement may be explored. Intellectual freedom

encompasses the freedom to hold, receive and disseminate ideas."—

Intellectual Freedom and Censorship Q & A (has a manual by ALA)

C E N S O R S H I P

TOP 101. Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling

2. Alice series, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

3. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier

4. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter

Parnell

5. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck

6. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou

7. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz

8. His Dark Materials (series), by Philip Pullman

9. ttyl; ttfn; l8r g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle

10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky

B A N N E D B O O K S 2 0 0 0 – 2 0 0 9

C E N S O R S H I P

REASONS FOR

1,577 challenges due to "sexually explicit" material;

1,291 challenges due to "offensive language";

989 challenges due to materials deemed "unsuited to

age group";

619 challenged due to "violence―;

361 challenges due to "homosexuality‖;

291 challenges due to ―religious viewpoint‖;

274 challenges due to ―occult‖ and ―Satanic‖;

119 challenges due to ―anti-family.‖ theme;

BANNING

B A N N E D B O O K S 2 0 0 0 – 2 0 0 9

P H I L I P P I N E C O N T E X T

C E N S O R S H I P

IS CENSORSHIPAN ISSUE?

I S S U E S I N C E N S O R S H I P

1. WITH CENSORSHIP

A. REASONS FOR IMPLEMENTING

CENSORSHIP (FOR THOSE OF PRO-

CENSORSHIP)

Librarians would be unable to

provide the needs of the

users/students

Librarians would be unable to

give free access to users’

desired information

Violations with ALA Intellectual

Freedom Manual and Code of

Ethics and Bill of Rights

Because contents of some books

are inappropriate with the clients

of school libraries / students.

Because of religious and racial

reasons of schools

Because of institutional policies

Because some books may

encourage negative behaviours

Because students are not yet

mature enough to handle themes

of banned books.

I S S U E S I N C E N S O R S H I P

1. WITHOUT CENSORSHIPA. REASONS FOR NOT IMPLEMETING

CENSORSHIP

Tendencies of students/young

clients:

A. For rebellion (Harry Potter)

B. To learn/get interested about

witchcraft (Harry Potter and it is

against some religions)

C. To have a change in their

behaviour in the future

It violates the freedom to think

and create new ideas and exercise

imagination

It is in contrary with ALA Bill of

Rights wherein

I. Books and other library resources

should be provided for the

interest, information, and

enlightenment of all people of the

community the library serves.

Materials should not be excluded

because of the origin, background,

or views of those contributing to

their creation.

I S S U E S I N C E N S O R S H I P

1. WITHOUT CENSORSHIPA. REASONS FOR NOT IMPLEMETING

CENSORSHIP

C. To have less focus on

academics and more focus on

fan-fictions

D. To have a change in attitude

(this is since books affect

children’s development)

It is in contrary with ALA Code of

ethics wherein,

II. We uphold the principles of

intellectual freedom and resist all

efforts to censor library resources.

ATENEO DE MANILA

COLLECTION

A T E N E O H S L I B R A R Y P R O C E D U R E S

Japanese Manga

Western Comics

Popular Reference Books

Teen Books

General Interests Books

C E N S O R S H I P

C E N S O R S H I P

CENSORED•Sensual Materials (e.g. 50 Shades of Grey; works by Eros Atalia)

•Gambling books and sources (e.g. Texas Hold’em Poker)

•Violent, sexual, oppressive, racist, pornographic materials with explicit

PG 18 content

A T E N E O H S L I B R A R Y P R O C E D U R E S

C E N S O R S H I P

POVERTYPORNOGRAPHY?FAMINE PORN?

Oversensualized conditions of the poor to elicit emotions

A T E N E O H S L I B R A R Y P R O C E D U R E S

C E N S O R S H I P

FACULTY ANDSTAFF

They are responsible for the selection and appraisal of materials, for

collection development, and education of censored materials if

need be.

A T E N E O H S L I B R A R Y P R O C E D U R E S

C E N S O R S H I P

LIBRARY ++Board Games

Problems with issues of Gambling

Card Games

Generalized idea that all card games are about gambling

A T E N E O H S L I B R A R Y P R O C E D U R E S

UP INTEGRATED

U P I S L I B R A R Y MA N U A L O F P R O C E D U R E S

C E N S O R S H I P

COLLECTIONDEVELOPMENT

AND EVALUATION

C E N S O R S H I P

CRITERIA FORSELECTION

U P I S L I B R A R Y MA N U A L O F P R O C E D U R E S

• Select and replace items found in standard lists and catalogs

• Select only those items that have been favorably reviewed in at least

two review sources

• Do not select textbooks

• Do not select anything that has received a negative review

• Select only items of lasting literary or social value

C E N S O R S H I P

SELECTION ANDACQUISITION

U P I S L I B R A R Y MA N U A L O F P R O C E D U R E S

9. There is an intellectual freedom in the UPIS Library. This means that

all materials in the library are available to students. Although it cannot

be said that there is no censorship at all. At the selection and

acquisition stage, subversive and pornographic materials are not

allowed.

POLICIES

C E N S O R S H I P

MEANS OFACQUISITION

U P I S L I B R A R Y MA N U A L O F P R O C E D U R E S

Book dealers already provide a pre-evaluated list of books to be

acquired by the library.

Censorship issues happen with donations by students, faculty and

alumni. The library periodically accepts collective donations and aptly

sends a letter of acknowledgement to each donor.

C E N S O R S H I P

WHAT HAPPENSTO CENSORED

U P I S L I B R A R Y MA N U A L O F P R O C E D U R E S

Books deemed inappropriate for the library’s collection are donated to

other satellite libraries of the University of the Philippines, the College

of Arts and Letters Library being the most popular donatary. Provincial

public libraries in need of books are also targeted.

BOOKS?

C E N S O R S H I P

EDUCATION ORPORNOGRAPHY?

O N E C A S E

An alumnus, perhaps by accident, donated among others a book about

population studies and sex education containing graphic illustrations

of various sexual positions. Although it possessed educational value

for senior students and the school faculty, the head librarian had to

immediately censor the material for lewd content.

W I L M A A Z A R C O N

U P I S H E A D L I B R A R I A N

Q U O T A B L E Q U O T E

RULES ARE THERETO GUIDE YOU,NOT RULE YOU.

INSIGHTST H O U G H T S,

M U S I N G S, C O M M E N T S

OPINIONS

A P R E S E N T A T I O N B Y :

LUNECESARIO

ENRIQUEZGARCIA