Across the country books are being challenged in school and community libraries and librarians are on the front lines of protecting access to materials some people find objectionable. In Idaho, pressure to remove or restrict books from library shelves has come from activist groups as well as members of the majority party in the Idaho Legislature.
The City Club of Boise, Ada Community Library, and The Cabin Center for Readers and Writers teamed up to plan a forum on how the issue is playing out both nationally and locally.
The panel discussed what kind of books are being challenged and why, and ask who should and should not be deciding what books make it onto library shelves.
Panelists:
Jonathan Friedman, Ph.D., is the director of free expression and education programs at PEN America.
Gena Marker - Teacher-librarian at Centennial High School in the West Ada School District.
Megan Larsen - Chair of the Meridian Library and joined the Board of Trustees.
Moderator - Jennifer Swindell founder, managing editor and CEO of Idaho Education News.