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The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) provides a forum for the discussion of activities, programs, and problems in intellectual freedom of libraries and librarians.

The IFRT Members Community group is the central hub for discussion, library and events. It is visible to all ALA members but only IFRT members can participate in the conversation.

  • 1.  Wanda Huffaker's suggestion on how to deal with book bans

    Posted Dec 15, 2025 12:05 PM
    Dear IFRT Members:

    It is very important for IFRT members to be aware of this post by the IFRT chair, and the discussion that it has generated. 

    Best,
    Frieda Afary
    Director-at-Large
    Intellectual Freedom Round Table

    ---- Forwarded Message -----

    Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 06:01:29 PM PST
    Subject: ALA Members Digest for Saturday December 13, 2025


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    2.Reply to National Book Rating Index
    Email a reply to the discussionSend a private message via email
    Dec 13, 2025 12:53 PM
    Wanda Mae Huffaker

    I am going to own the part that I may have played in this and explain why. I realize I may not be popular, but I did not aim for popularity. "According to lore" is not lore, is not lore. I am indeed the librarian.  For some months after "book banning" starting I attempted to put myself in the position of those who were making requests, and ask why they were really doing it. I wanted a conversation, not a debate. I sat down with Brooke Stephens, and we began to communicate by phone, text and in person.  I told her that I wanted removing books to stop, and we agreed that fighting and litigation was expensive. We discussed how libraries provided information, particularly about books. We had very many resources that guided people on how to find books. We could guide people to resources. Perhaps if she had a resource we could guide people to, it could be one of the many that we guided people to. Parents could direct their children to check that resource when they came to the library, rather than remove the books. This could possibly appease the parents, and also be a source for parents.  Librarians are under no obligation to use it. But it can be another library resource for information.  As long as we are adversarial, believe we know everything, make no attempt to understand or reach out to each other,  we will make no progress.  Maybe be I haven't stopped all books from being banned, but I have made a friend, and we are at least talking about it.

    What Is The National Book Rating Index?: Another "New" Review Tool Attempting to Legitimize Bias in Book Evaluation • Buttondown



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    [Wanda] [Mae][Huffaker]
    Librarian
    Salt Lake County Library
    She/Her/Hers
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  • 2.  RE: Wanda Huffaker's suggestion on how to deal with book bans

    Posted Dec 17, 2025 11:32 AM

    Hello IFRT Members,

    This is the message that I posted on ALA Connect in response to the thread that continues:

    As a director-at-large of the Intellectual Freedom Round Table,  I do not agree with the position expressed by Wanda Huffaker.  As others on this thread have argued,  there is a clear distinction between helping people of various beliefs/ideologies find books,  and facilitating the work of entities that are actively banning books and dismantling libraries/educational institutions.

    Frieda Afary

    Public Librarian and Writer

    Los Angeles



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    Frieda Afary
    Adult Librarian
    Retired From Los Angeles Public Library, Director-at-large, IFRT (2024-2026)
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