Guardians of Freedom: Examining Privacy, Censorship, and Government Legislation in Collection Development

ABSTRACT

This article delves into the complex and inseparable relationship between collection development in libraries and the interconnected factors of privacy, censorship, and government influence. Libraries, as guardians of information and knowledge, constantly strive to update their collections to meet the diverse needs of patrons. However, in doing so, they face intricate challenges that extend beyond merely acquiring materials. This article aims to shed light on the pivotal role librarians play in collection development. It highlights the need for librarians to consider a wide range of factors, both internal and external, before making informed decisions about their collections. By understanding the multifaceted nature of their responsibilities, librarians can better serve their communities and maintain libraries as vital centers for knowledge dissemination. This article ultimately offers insights that can contribute to the enhancement of collection development practices, ensuring libraries remain adaptive, inclusive, and conducive to the pursuit of knowledge in an ever-changing world.

KEYWORDS:

• Privacy in libraries
• censorship
• legislation
• intellectual freedom
• academic freedom

Acknowledgments

This article was originally written for INFO5400: Information Resources Development. The author thanks the University of North Texas (College of Information) for this enriching academic experience.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. American Library Association, “Advocacy and Public Policy,” https://www.ala.org/advocacy/federal-resources (accessed July 15, 2023).

2. Paula Wittmann and Nancy Fisher-Allison, “Intentionally Creating a Safe Space for All: The School Library as Refuge,” Knowledge Quest 48, no. 3 (2020): 42.

3. Lisa Zhao, “Protection of Library Users’ Privacy: An Analysis of US State Laws,” Chinese Librarianship 26, no. 26 (2008): 8.

4. Sandra J. Valenti, Brady D. Lund, and Matthew A. Beckstrom, Library Patrons’ Privacy: Questions and Answers (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2022), 11.

5. Judith Rauhofer, “Privacy Is Dead, Get over It! Information Privacy and the Dream of a Risk-Free Society,” Information & Communications Technology Law 17, no. 3 (October 2008): 185–97. doi:10.1080/13600830802472990.

6. American Library Association, “Privacy,” https://www.ala.org/advocacy/privacy (accessed July 15, 2023).

7. Ibid.

8. Ibid.

9. Debra Lau Whelan, “A Dirty Little Secret: Self-Censorship,” School Library Journal 55, no. 2 (2009): 26–30.

10. Ibid.

11. Jennifer Downey, “Self-Censorship in Selection of LGBT-Themed Materials,” Reference & User Services Quarterly 53, no. 2 (Winter 2013): 104–107. https://libproxy.library.unt.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/self-censorship-selection-lgbt-themed-materials/docview/1470878772/se-2.

12. Ibid.

13. Jennifer Elaine Steele, “Cases of Censorship in Public Libraries: Wichita Falls, TX,” Public Library Quarterly (2019). doi:10.1080/01616846.2019.1692324.

14. “Success Stories: Library,” Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom (Online) 64, no. 5 (2015): 160. https://libproxy.library.unt.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/success-stories-library/docview/1721338503/se-2 (accessed July 15, 2023).

15. Zoe (Abbie) Teel, “Discouraging Freedom in the Library,” The Serials Librarian (2023): 1–6.

16. Emily Knox, “The Books Will Still Be in the Library: Narrow Definitions of Censorship in the Discourse of Challengers,” Library Trends 62, no. 4 (2014): 740–749.

17. See note 9 above.

18. Ibid.

19. American Library Association, “Challenge Support,” https://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport (accessed July 15, 2023).

20. Ibid.

21. Ibid.

22. Ibid.

23. Ibid.

24. Brady D Lund, “Public Libraries’ Data Privacy Policies: A Content and Cluster Analysis,” The Serials Librarian 81, no. 1 (2021): 99–107.

25. Texas State Library and Archives Commission, “Library Laws and Rules,” https://www.ala.org/asgcla/resources/libraryservices (accessed July 15, 2023).

26. See note 1 above.