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SELA/MLA Joint Conference

  • 11 Oct 2022
  • 14 Oct 2022
  • Meridian, MS

For 2022 we’re back in person and better than ever! This year’s MLA/SELA joint conference will be held at the MSU Riley Center in Meridian, MS, from October 11th – October 14th, 2022. We are so excited to be back together again and to welcome SELA members to Mississippi!

The theme for this year’s conference is “Libraries Uncensored”. One of the basic principles of the ALA’s Library Bill of Rights states that “libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment” (ALA Council, 1939). While censorship challenges of library materials, resources, and services have been happening for many years we are seeing a resurgence of challenges as of late. ALA’s Office of Intellectual Freedom (OIF) recorded a total of 729 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2021, which resulted in more than 1,597 individual book challenges or removals. This is the highest number of attempted book bans in 20 years. Now, more than ever, libraries play a critical role in making knowledge and ideas available to everyone so that people are free to choose what to read. “Libraries Uncensored” doesn’t just refer to book challenges/bans, rather, it encompasses all the ways that libraries uphold intellectual freedom.

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