FReadom to Read: Preparing for and Responding to Book Challenges

Information, Clarity, and Best Practice Advice for Book Challenges

You don’t have to look far today to hear about books and other materials in school libraries and classrooms being questioned or challenged or even publicly attacked. Maybe you don’t have to look beyond your own community or school. What should you do if it happens? What can you do before it happens? How can you deal with the stress and second-guessing when your selection decisions feel like they’re under intense scrutiny? This workshop will review the still-relevant basics of responding to concerns and challenges, provide an opportunity for attendees to ask questions, share advice and perspectives with one another, and begin to plan and organize for your local context. Ideally a building or district team could attend together!

Cost: $25

Presenters: Monica Treptow, DPI School Library Consultant, DPI School Library Media Education Consultant and Megan Schliesman, Intellectual Freedom Information Services Manager and Librarian at CCBC

About the Presenters:

Monica Treptow is your resource for consultation, assistance, and leadership with school library programs. She is passionate about making school library programs Future Ready with robust centers for inquiry and collaboration providing equitable access for all Wisconsin students and staffed by quality professional school library media specialists.

Megan Schliesman is a librarian at the Cooperative Children’s Book Center of the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Megan has co-authored the annual CCBC Choices publication since 1993, and, with Kathleen T. Horning and Ginny Moore Kruse, coauthored Multicultural Literature for Children and Young Adults, 1991-1996. Among her other responsibilities at the CCBC, Megan manages the CCBC Intellectual Freedom Information Services, including the “What IF . . . Questions and Answers on Intellectual Freedom” forum. She recently chaired the American Library Association/Association for Library Service to Children (ALA/ALSC) Awards Program Review Task Force, and was co-chair of the ALA/ALSC 2018 Charlemae Rollins President’s Program.

Cancellation Policy: Registered participants will receive a refund if they cancel prior to 3 working days before an event, minus any material costs that have already been incurred. Cancellations must either be made on MyQuickReg or by emailing cancel@cesa2.org. Because of our commitment to the presenter and the food vendor, participants who cancel less than 3 working days prior to the event or who do not attend the event, will be billed the full fee. CESA 2 reserves the right to cancel any event. Registered participants will be notified via phone and email if a cancellation occurs and will receive a full refund. 

Inclement Weather Policy: Every effort will be made to hold an event. CESA 2 will notify participants via email as soon as possible if an event has been cancelled due to weather conditions.

Disclaimer: CESA 2 will do its best to accommodate general dietary requests; if your dietary need is very specific or severe, you may want to bring your own lunch to ensure your comfort and health. CESA 2 does not assume liability for adverse reactions to food consumed or items one may come into contact with while eating at a CESA 2 event. If you have a dietary need or food allergy, please go into your MyQuickReg profile and update the special accommodations section. Notice of a special dietary need must be made 2 weeks in advance of the event.

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In-Person Events: Restrictions on our in-person events due to COVID-19 have been lifted. We will be responsive to what's happening within our communities, and guidelines from the CDC and local health agencies for future offerings and will update guidelines when necessary.