Scales on Censorship: Real Life Lessons from School Library Journal

Pat Scales has been a passionate advocate for intellectual freedom long before she launched the “Scales on Censorship” column with School Library Journal in 2006. Decades of experience as a school librarian informs her ongoing work on these important and often volatile issues, as did her tenure in leadership roles on the American Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee and at the Freedom To Read Foundation. It also earned her a place among the inaugural list of Library Journal’s Movers & Shakers in 2002. Since her first column for SLJ she has been in an ongoing conversation of sorts with librarians, teachers, and parents―a much needed conversation.

This collection of the wide-ranging questions from readers and Scales’ informative answers are gathered in broad thematic groups to help readers explore the all-too daily reality of confronting efforts to censor, ban, or otherwise limit open and ready access to materials in our schools and libraries. They were all written in response to active book challenges or questions of intellectual freedom and library ethics. These columns have a ripped from the headlines immediacy even as they reflect the core values and policies of librarianship. They are organized by topic and each is framed with a brief new introductory essay.

Scales’ powerful reputation and practical ethically-based solutions has made her a key spokesperson and support for librarians working under a censorship siege. Her passionate, unwavering voice provides valuable strategic and tactical approaches to censorship, fine-tuned insight into individual books often challenged, and critical moral support for managing trying conversations. Scales is focused throughout on fostering a culture that embraces and understands the importance of intellectual freedom, and the tools to make it a reality every day in our libraries, schools, and communities. Learn from her to build a background in the ethics involved in defending intellectual freedom and lean on her for insights into real-life situations.
Scales on Censorship is an essential ally in the ongoing fight.

Pat R. Scales has tirelessly worked as an advocate for children’s reading and intellectual freedom throughout her distinguished career. After working for more than twenty-five years for Greenville Middle School in Greenville, SC, Pat became the director of library and information services at the state’s Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities. Among her many professional activities, she has served as President of ALA’s Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), chaired the 2005 Arbuthnot Lecture Committee, 2003 Caldecott Award Selection Committee, 2001 Wilder Award Selection Committee, and 1992 Newbery Award Selection committee. Awarded the SCLA/SIRS Intellectual Freedom Award in 2001 and named one of the Movers & Shakers: People Changing the Future of Libraries by Library Journal in 2000, Pat continues to share her expertise with librarians around the world through her School library Journal Column, “Scales on Censorship.”

Rebecca T. Miller has almost 20 years of editorial experience, and was named Editorial Director of Library Journal/School Library Journal (part of Media Source Inc.) in 2013. Her deep background in libraries dates to 1998 when she joined the book review staff of Library Journal. In the intervening years, serving as Executive Editor for Library Journal and subsequently Editor-in-Chief of School Library Journal, she helped launch several new products, including Críticas magazine and Library By Design, as well as driving the evolution of the content strategy of these two key brands through the development of digital outlets, original research, and the creation of virtual and face to face events and professional development initiatives. Prior to joining Media Source, she worked at Utne Reader. She also served on the board of the National Book Critics Circle for six years, two as President. She has a BA from DePauw University and an MSLIS from Pratt Institute.

Barbara A. Genco is a library consultant and the current Manager of Special Projects for Library Journal. Her 40 year career as a librarian includes 34 years at Brooklyn Public Library where she spent over 25 years in collection development with a special focus on creating and managing centralized selection models, value-added vendor relationships, and re-engineering technical services. Before her 2009 retirement from Brooklyn PL, Genco served as a Coordinator of Special Projects and Strategic Planning, leading the library’s Community Needs Assessment initiative. Her professional career includes a stint as president of the Association for Library Service to Children (American Library Association [ALA]), an at-large member of ALA Council, and serving on the Newbery, Caldecott, Boston Globe Horn Book, Theodore Seuss Geisel, Sibert, Ezra Jack Keats New Authors/Illustrators, Science Books and Films, Society of Illustrators Original Art, and Arbuthnot Lecture award juries.

In 2000, Genco was the recipient of the prestigious ALA/Public Library Association Allie Beth Martin Award, which acknowledged her "extraordinary…depth of knowledge about books and (the) distinguished ability to share that knowledge." Genco has an MLS from Pratt Institute and a BA in English from Canisius College. She is a Visiting Associate Professor at Pratt Institute School of Library and Information Science and serves on the governing board of New York City's historic Salmagundi Arts Club in the heart of Greenwich Village.