There Is No Good Censorship: The Conservative Case Against Book Bans

Abstract

Library book bans and challenges are strategic offensive maneuvers in the resurgent culture war. Trends in
contemporary challenges reported by the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom and
PEN America suggest that many challenges originate from conservative community members; however, book
bans are in conflict with fundamental tenets of conservatism. This article empowers library workers and
intellectual freedom advocates to engage in good faith with conservative members of their community who
seek to challenge library resources by invoking conservative values against book bans. The article outlines the
conservative case against book bans informed by five values of conservatism: individualism, civil liberties, limited
government, free enterprise, and pragmatism. The article also