Joe Kohlburn is a doctoral candidate in information science, librarian, activist, and an arts advocate in St. Louis, MO.
Intellectual freedom advocacy in Missouri asks a lot and promises very little. What makes it possible to continue to advocate and push against totalitarian impulses in law and policy around here is keeping in mind the wellbeing of the communities we serve and having absolutely exceptional and badass colleagues like Tiffany Mautino and Colleen Norman. …
Continue reading "Intellectual Freedom Chairs (MLA) 2021-2023"
This event presents the recent wave of censorship across the state of Missouri removing books and art in libraries. Legislation like SB 775 and the MO Secretary of State’s recent Proposed Rule to control library funding could undermine democracy and push us closer to fascism. This past year alone, attempts to ban books nationwide have …
This is my first first-author article with Hyerim Cho and Hollis Moore. In this one we look at implications for user-centered analysis of Steam reviews in terms of gamers perceive and engage with sexual and gender identity in games. We do a random sample of reviews in 4 games- Night in the Woods, Undertale, Dream …
This panel brings together several brilliant folks to chat about the state of access in these fraught political times (especially as regards information resilience). I will be talking about book bans and local legislatures efforts to block access for historically marginalized populations among other topics. This panel will be on Halloween at 2 PM EST …
I was honored to be part of this discussion on Tuesday with Jaime Gregory, Nadine Farid Johnson and Megan Fromm of NAMLE for Media Literacy Week. Jaime is an award-winning AMAZING school librarian from South Carolina and Nadine co-wrote this important report for PEN America on the state of book banning in the US. I …
Continue reading "Panel Discussion- Banned in the USA- NAMLE/ US Media Literacy Week"
This paper is the result interviews with 23 library managers across the US, wherein we try to get to the bottom of their COVID-19 response, unpacking decision-making processes and learning what they need to more effectively support their communities during a public health crisis. Bossaller, J, Kohlburn, K, Cho, H, Moulaison-Sandy, H, and D Adkins. …
Continue reading "Short Paper Published- Proceedings of ASIST"
The latest proposed rule is a solution in search of a problem. A few of the requirements in the proposed rule are already best practices in libraries. The ALA and MLA already recommend that libraries have written collection development policies (A) and challenge processes and procedures (F). Indeed, many of our latest qualms about school …
Continue reading "Statement on Proposed Rule 15 CSR 30-200.015"
My profound thanks to my colleagues on all their excellent work this year. Here is a non-exhaustive list of our appearances in print and television this year. Well done advocates! KSDK - February 2022 https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/education/aclu-missouri-file-suit-against-wentzville-school-district-book-ban-the-bluest-eye/63-65f9c4e8-cb79-4a26-805b-2c1d9ec360ab St. Louis Post- Dispatch - June 2022 https://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/books-and-literature/library-group-again-implores-wentzville-school-board-to-stop-banning-books/article_12c41756-63b1-5e69-b645-a1af44551151.html#tracking-source=home-the-latest Independence Examiner - July 2022 https://www.examiner.net/2022/07/09/end-school-library-censorship-and-address-the-damage-it-has-done/ KOMU - August 2022 (https://www.komu.com/news/state/new-missouri-law-will-ban-sharing-visually-explicit-materials-with-students/article_97717864-2493-11ed-9871-bb4c9247515f.html) St. …
Jeff Todd- Board President Parkway School District 455 N.Woods Mill Road Chesterfield, MO 63017 jtodd3@parkwayschools.net cc: Dr. Keith Marty- Superintendent kmarty@parkwayschools.net Dear Mr. Todd and Dr. Marty, We were asked by members of your community to write on behalf of students, teachers, and librarians in your district. Your recent effort to remove a series of …
Continue reading "Letter to Parkway School District- September 30, 2022"
In honor of Banned Books Week (Sept 18-24), the Missouri Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee would like to clearly state our position on SB 775 and related actions by legislators, administrators and school board members. On behalf of our members and readers across the state, please join us in resisting attempts to undermine intellectual freedom. …
Continue reading "Banned Books Week Statement from the MLA-IFC"
Joe Kohlburn 