As book bans and censorship efforts continue to escalate in schools, libraries, and statehouses across the country, negative impacts are on the rise, too, affecting readers, educators, students, library workers, authors, and others. Join staff from the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom and First Book to learn more about new data that can help us understand more about what's happening.
During this free webinar, attendees will learn about newly released 2023 data on book banning from ALA, and a new study from First Book about the chilling effect that conversation around book bans are having on teacher morale and student learning - far beyond the areas directly facing book restrictions. First Book will also share the results of a separate study revealing the positive impact that diverse books have on student learning outcomes. As partners in Unite Against Book Bans, presenters will also share more about how to get involved in the fight to stop these dangerous efforts to curtail the freedom to read.
This webinar is for librarians, educators, Unite Against Book Ban partners and any individuals who want to better understand the current state of book bans, their impact, and why it’s important to take action and speak up for the freedom to read. Presented by Unite Against Book Bans, in collaboration with First Book and ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom.
Wednesday, November 8, 2023 - 5:00-6:00 pm Central / 6:00 - 7:00 pm Eastern
All registrants will receive a link to access a recording of the webinar following the live event.
Moderator
Joyce McIntosh, Assistant Program Director, Freedom to Read Foundation
Joyce McIntosh is the Assistant Program Director for the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF), an organization dedicated to First Amendment education, litigation, and advocacy. She has worked at the intersection of intellectual freedom, communication, and the First Amendment for three decades. Her background and education in journalism and library and information science have led her to work for newspapers, non-profits, and for the last two decades in libraries. She worked in a public library outside of Chicago, IL providing reference, programming, outreach, and assistive technology before joining FTRF. With FTRF and the American Library Association her work has focused on education about the First Amendment and censorship, and helping librarians navigate challenges in their school and public libraries.
Presenters
Eric Stroshane, Assistant Director, Member Services, ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom
Eric Stroshane is the Office for Intellectual Freedom's (OIF) Assistant Director of Member Services. He has twenty years of experience working in public, special, and academic libraries. In his work with OIF he supports library staff and administrators defending the freedom to read; maintains the banned and challenged books database; and assists with publications. He is the news editor for the Journal of Intellectual Freedom and Privacy, curates a weekly news compilation for ALA’s Intellectual Freedom Blog, and is a former president of the Mountain Plains Library Association. He has delivered training and presentations on intellectual freedom issues for a variety of audiences nationwide.
Julianne Appleton, Director, Research & Insights, First Book
Julianne Appleton has been a member of the First Book team for over a decade. In her role as Director of Research & Insights, she conducts and manages First Book’s primary research initiatives, which range from literature reviews and focus groups to more robust quantitative surveys and the analysis of survey results. Julianne is passionate about educational equity and the use of data to improve the educational experience for children in low-income communities. She holds an M.A. in Intercultural Service, Leadership & Management from the School for International Training.
Becky Calzada, President-elect, American Association of School Librarians and District Library Coordinator, Leander ISD (Tex.)
Becky Calzada is a District Library Coordinator in a large central Texas school district. She is a co-founding member of #FReadom Fighters, recipient of the ALA’s Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom Award, the American Association of School Librarians’ Intellectual Freedom Award, and the Texas Library Association’s Libraries Change Communities Award. Becky is a member of the ALA Policy Corp Proactive Advocacy on Book Banning cadre, a member of the ALA Intellectual Freedom committee, on the Legislative Committee for the Texas Library Association, and Past Chair for the Texas Association of School Librarians. She is the 24/25 President-Elect for AASL and was honored by People Magazine in their 2023 Women Changing the World portfolio.
