The American Library Association has released its list of the 100 most frequently banned and challenged books in U.S. public libraries and schools in 2010–19: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/decade2019 The most frequently challenged book was Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. At least two Canadian titles appear on the list: (29) The Handmaid’s Tale …
In the Superior Court of Quebec, a judge has acquitted a fiction author and a book publisher of child pornography charges. On September 24, 2020, Justice Marc-André Blanchard acquitted Yvan Godbout of producing child pornography. Godbout is the author of Hansel et Gretel, a horror novel that includes depictions of child sexual abuse. Justice Blanchard …
In St. John’s, a writer considers the history of book challenges in Newfoundland and Labrador’s public libraries. Andie Bulman writes for CBC News: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/banned-books-bulman-pov-1.5737342 In the United States, Banned Books Week took place from September 27 to October 3, 2020. News Byte courtesy: R. Franklin Carter
In Toronto, John Degen, the executive director of the Writers’ Union of Canada, considers the legal limits of free speech in Canada. He refers to the recent rulings of the Supreme Court of Canada on two SLAPP disputes: 1704604 Ontario Ltd. v. Pointes Protection Association and Bent v. Platnick. https://cfe.ryerson.ca/blog/2020/10/free-speech-caution-tape-can-we-trust-those-lines Mr. Degen’s commentary appears on …
On September 10, 2020, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled on two different SLAPP legislation cases: 1704604 Ontario Ltd. v. Pointes Protection Association and Bent v. Platnick. Both lawsuits originated in Ontario, both disputes touched on issues of public importance, and both defendants used Ontario’s anti-SLAPP law. But in only one case did the defendant successfully use the …
When there is a news report about books being challenged in a school library learning commons, it is often because the item was removed at the direction of the school or district administration following a parent complaint about a specific book and that the proper ‘Request for Reconsideration’ process was not followed. For example, in …
POSTED APRIL 27, 2020 BY ALVIN M. SCHRADER I want to first address the fundamental role and value of the public library in Canadian communities – its “value proposition,” grounded in intellectual freedom – and then make a case for intellectual freedom as the institutional soul of the public library. I will review the complexity of …
CHICAGO – Today the American Library Association (ALA) released its 2020 State of America’s Libraries report, an annual summary of library trends released during National Library Week, April 19 – 25, that outlines statistics and issues affecting all types of libraries during the previous calendar year. Although the report focuses on 2019, libraries are shown …
The Government of Canada is funding projects to prevent misleading COVID-19 information and to support social cohesion throughout the country GATINEAU, QC, April 7, 2020 /CNW/ – Now more than ever, Canadians need reliable news and information. The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage, announced tpday that the Government of Canada is investing $3 …
The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC) is pleased to announce that author Ivan Coyote is the recipient of the 2020 Freedom to Read Award. The award is presented annually by TWUC in recognition of work that is passionately supportive of the freedom to read. Past recipients include authors Jael Richardson, Deborah Campbell, Mohamed Fahmy, Lawrence …