To the Editor:

“Books unite us, censorship divides us” — The American Library Association.

“There is no good censorship. Any effort to restrict free expression, or the free flow of information, aids discrimination, and oppression.” — The Connecticut Library Association

According to the ALA, the past two years have seen a drastic rise in book challenges reflecting issues that are currently dividing our country. Most of the challenges target the LGBTQ+ community, and those of racial, religious minorities.

Fact 1. We CARE about EVERY student!

Fact 2. Everyone’s opinion MATTERS!

Fact 3. PROFESSIONAL library and literary publications, on which we base our purchasing decisions rated the two challenged books as follows:

Blankets (published in 2011): ALA’s YALSA: “Ages 12-18,” Booklist: “YA/Mature”

Flamer (published in 2020): Booklist: “Grades 9-12,” School Library Journal: “Grades 8+”

Fact 4. MANY Connecticut area high schools as well as those in our ERG have both books in their libraries: Blankets: 9, Flamer: 20.

Fact 5. Flamer was on the 2022 CT Governor’s High School Summer Reading Challenge.

Fact 6. Flamer is a contender for this year’s Nutmeg Award at the high school level.

Fact 7. The Special Review Committee determined that neither book contains pornography, that both books are age appropriate for high school students and voted UNANIMOUSLY to retain them.

Fact 8. Newtown’s K-12 library media specialists are QUALIFIED: in addition to holding dual certifications; in teaching and library media, some of us hold dual master’s degrees in education and library science. Many of us are members of and/or recipients of recognitions from prestigious organizations and institutions: ALA, CLA, ISTE (International Society of Technology Educators), National Geographic, Newtown Profiles in Professionalism and UConn’s ECE program.

Some of us have been invited to present at statewide conferences: CEMA (now CASL), Connecticut Council for the Social Studies. Some of us have even led our students to statewide achievements: NHS Skills 21 class project “Bees and Love” was the winner of the “Sustainability Challenge” out of 55+ schools that competed in Connecticut’s Expo Fest in May of 2017.

Fact 9. We base our purchasing decisions on PROFESSIONALLY written reviews and in accordance with BOE policy to provide students access to a wide variety of quality resources which support curriculum objectives, district initiatives, as well as those representing multiple points of view and interests to encourage not only critical thinking but respect and empathy for others.

Fact 10. We regularly REVIEW our collection and, if needed, weed outdated materials from our libraries in accordance with BOE policy as well as ALA guidelines.

Fact 11. Our “AGENDA” is to promote a love of reading, life-long learning and to encourage our students to be critical thinkers, responsible users of information, to respectfully speak TRUTH to power, to prepare them to be well-rounded, productive members of society. And above all, to be “NEWTOWN STRONG” in the face of bullying or injustice and to “CHOOSE LOVE” over intolerance.

Liza Zandonella,

NHS teacher/librarian

Newtown