A librarian's reaction to the U. S. Senate's rejection of the report of the Commission on Obscenity and Pornography. (Author)

The view of President Nixon and the current Supreme Court toward obscenity and censorship appears to be one of paternalistic protection for American citizens. The author discusses this issue as a basic moral-political question. (8 references) (Author/SJ)

A viable library collection should include at least a scattering of titles which the librarian finds offensive and disturbing. (28 references) (Author/MM)

This essay focuses on self-censorship as applied to the library book selection process, highlighting librarian practices of selection, library collections, censorship and the publishing industry, and self-defense against censorship. Five controversial titles are included. (EJS)

The current position of the American Library Association (ALA) on intellectual freedom was not a development and refinement of its earlier positions, but a reversal of an older posture. (Author)

A library is not a theoretical thing: it is part of the total social fabric. To ignore public opinion is to invite the kind of retaliation that would severely cripple the library's ability to operate. (Author)

A library should be a place where a person is free to turn on sexually as well as intellectually." (Author)

Identifies two types of censors--individuals and representatives of organized groups or crusades--and examines factors that motivate their attempts at library censorship. Factors influencing librarians dealing with censorship are also discussed. Librarians are advised to prepare themselves to live with censorship by learning to understand…

Discusses steps taken by the Idaho Library Association to defeat an antigay ballot initiative by means of a coordinated, statewide public relations campaign. The ballot, known as Proposition One, would have violated First Amendment rights and caused library materials to be censored to determine whether they addressed homosexuality. (Author/JKP)