The Library Association Record and Censorship: A Content Analysis

Abstract

This research involved a content analysis of the censorship-related items published during a twenty year period (1975-1994) of the British Library Association's monthly professional journal The Library Association Record. All communication forms, including feature articles, letters to the editor, cartoons, book reviews, news/conference reports, columns, and editorials were analyzed according to topic, year, type of library, authorship, and viewpoint. In addition, the history and purpose of the Record, and professional journals in general, was examined. The five (of 15) most common censorship-related topics, in order of frequency were politics, philosophy of intellectual freedom, sexism/stereotyping, religion, and children's access. Items pertained to public libraries more than to university, school, or special libraries. However, when professional affiliation of the author was analyzed it was found that academic and public librarians had contributed equal numbers of items. Author gender could be determined for 70% of the items (315 of 455) revealing that women had contributed 33% (103) of the items, a percentage below that in many other journals. Letters to the editor were the most frequent form of censorship communication. Fifty-five per cent of the total items advocated open access to information, 17% advocated restrictions, while 28% expressed no viewpoint regarding access. The relationship between knowledge and power in the items analyzed as well as the differing viewpoints of LA members regarding one's right to freedom from effense were also explored