Editorial
This year’s Freedom to Read review marks the thirtieth anniversary of its publication and of Freedom to Read Week in Canada. It was 1984 when the Book and Periodical Council, through its Freedom of Expression Committee, first published this annual review to explore the freedom to read in Canada and elsewhere and to inform and assist booksellers, publishers, librarians, students, educators, writers and the public.
To commemorate Freedom to Read’s thirtieth anniversary, some of our writers have cast a look back over the past three decades. Franklin Carter describes challenges to 30 publications and looks at the origins of Freedom to Read Week. Jason Openo traces his life from his teen years as a book borrower to his career as a public librarian and considers the changing landscape of the librarians’ profession.
Mark Bourrie and Pippa Wysong each cast a critical eye at the restrictions placed on the ability of government librarians, archivists and scientists to freely share information. Charles Montpetit examines how artists and writers can fall victim to censorship, especially if the material is deemed violent in nature. Ann Curry takes a more lighthearted look at what adults hate but children love in “scatological” children’s literature.
Finally, the “Get Involved” section provides exercises and resources for teachers, librarians and students. This and previous issues of Freedom to Read, as well as appendices and other resources, are available at www.freedomtoread.ca.
We hope you enjoy this issue.
— Elizabeth Raymer, Editor
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Book and Periodical Council Members 2013–14
News Bytes
By Franklin Carter
Heiltsuk Cultural Architect:
Jessie Housty in Conversation
By Elizabeth Raymer
Classified: The Silencing of
Librarians and Archivists
By Mark Bourrie
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: Scientific
Research Under Wraps
By Pippa Wysong
Censoring Violence in Entertainment
Media: Who Are the Real Victims?
By Charles Montpetit
Bums, Poops and Pees: Why Children
Love and Adults Censor Scatological
Children’s Books
By Ann Curry
The Provocative and Profane:
A Librarian Looks Back over Three
Decades of Challenges
By Jason Openo
The Origins of Freedom to Read Week
By Franklin Carter
Dear Teacher: An Open Letter from
Margaret Laurence to Schoolteachers
30 Challenged Publications
By Franklin Carter
Telegram from the BPDC to Alice Munro,
Janet Lunn and June Callwood
Meanwhile in Quebec …
By Charles Montpetit
Teaching Tough Topics
By Ken Setterington
2013 Awards
Surveillance Without Borders
By Philip Slayton
Access to Information in Crisis
By Julie Payne
Ontario Inches Toward Anti-SLAPP Legislation
By Ron Brown
The School Library as Intellectual Freedom Fighter
By Shelagh Paterson
Intellectual Freedom Questioned: Challenges to Library Resources and Policies in Publicly Funded Canadian Libraries in 2012
By Alvin M. Schrader and Donna Bowman
Book Profiles: Dear Sir, I Intend to Burn Your Book; The War on Science; Banned on the Hill; Black Code
By Hilary McLaughlin
GET INVOLVED
Ideas for Educators
Get Involved in Freedom to Read Week
Get Involved Online
Talk It Up
Activity: Freedom to Read 2014 Quiz
Activity: Host an Event
Winning Student Essays and Video from the Calgary Public Library’s Contest, 2013
Activity: Word-Search Puzzle
Activity: Acrostic
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[reveal heading=”
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Editor: Elizabeth Raymer
Consulting Editor: Franklin Carter
Creative Director/Poster Design: Reva Pomer
Contributors: Mark Bourrie, Donna Bowman, Ron Brown, Elizabeth Cameron, Ann Curry, Ethan Gaiser, Alexa Iwanic, Hilary McLaughlin, Charles Montpetit, Jason Openo, Shelagh Paterson, Julie Payne, Alvin M. Schrader, Ken Setterington, Philip Slayton, Pippa Wysong
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%image% Browse the Kit
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