Book Selection and Censorship

Book Selection and Censorship offers an in-depth exploration of the interplay between library practices, community pressures, and the evolving cultural climate in mid-20th century California. This groundbreaking study, initiated by the California Library Association and the University of California’s School of Librarianship, investigates how librarians in public and school libraries navigated challenges to intellectual freedom during a period marked by heightened scrutiny from state and national “un-American” activities committees. Through meticulous interviews across 26 diverse communities, the research uncovers the factors shaping book selection policies, the handling of controversial materials, and the influence of both internal institutional pressures and broader societal "temper of the times."

This comprehensive analysis combines quantitative data with qualitative insights to reveal the complexities of librarians' decision-making processes in the face of censorship. It traces how external and internal pressures contributed to restrictive practices, often preemptively embedded into routine procedures. Ideal for scholars of library science, intellectual freedom, and social history, the study serves as a vital resource for understanding the dynamics of censorship, professional ethics, and the enduring struggle to maintain the freedom to read in an ever-changing sociopolitical landscape.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1959. See more