'I Can't Have That in There': Little Free Library Stewards and Intellectual Freedom

摘要

Little Free Libraries have sprung up in a plethora of communities across the United States, and national library and literacy organizations have showered them with accolades. The Little Free Library organization touts the book boxes as increasing access to books and encouraging reading, creativity, and interaction. Despite their popularity, scholars have yet to explore Little Free Libraries fully. Using semistructured interviews and document analysis, this research explores the practices of Little Free Library curators. Framed by library practices, such as collection management, and philosophies, centrally, intellectual freedom, the analysis finds the Little Free Library organization and book box owners willing to practice censorship when materials do not reflect their values. I argue that some Little Free Library stewards' practices align with those of contemporary librarians, whereas others are more akin to book challengers seeking to remove materials from public and school libraries and school curricula.