Reading Between the Lines: Celebrating Banned Books Week Through the Lens of the Information Literacy Framework

Abstract

Book challenges, attempts to restrict or remove reading materials from libraries and
schools due to content objections, pose a significant threat to intellectual freedom. By
targeting works that offer diverse viewpoints, these efforts limit access to ideas that foster
critical thinking, empathy, and cultural understanding. When successful, such challenges
can result in the banning of books, silencing voices and stories that deserve to be heard,
and effectively curtailing the right to read and explore different viewpoints. The ACRL
Information Literacy Framework places intellectual freedom at the heart of academic
librarianship, echoing ALA’s firm stance against censorship. By embracing this framework,
academic libraries are called to create spaces where students can freely explore a wide range
of ideas, perspectives, and sources—without barriers to access or inquiry