Advocacy

Our center will help you advocate to include a challenged book in your curriculum. If you need help writing a rationale, connecting your book to standards, or drafting a letter to your school board, please contact us for personalized help.

Here are some additional resources:

• The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) offers a great place to start on how to write a rationale for a challenged book.
• The American Library Association (ALA) Issues and Advocacy site
• The National Coalition Against Censorship
• NCTE Intellectual Freedom Center
• The NCTE Assembly on Literature for Adolescents SpeakLoudly Censorship Resources

Steps To Take If A Book Has Been Challenged:

1. Review the complaint.
2. Talk to your administrator.
3. Gather resources (book awards, book reviews, distinctions the title has won).
4. Re-read the title so you can familiarize yourself with it.
5. Be prepared to provide information to your appropriate supervisor about the merits of the literature.

Susan Groenke promotes books for Black History Month