New York Public Library
Date: 1920s 1930s
Region: North America
Subject: Language
Medium: Literature
Artist: various authors
Confronting Bodies: librarians at the New York Public Library
Dates of Action: 1920s, 1930s
Location: New York
Description of Artwork: Different books chosen by the librarians.
The Incident: During the 1920s and '30s, the New York Public Library engaged in self censorship where librarians would choose materials to catalogue separately. These books would only be available if patrons asked for them specifically.
Results of Incident: In the 1940s and 1950s, professional librarians created guidelines for all the librarians to follow. These objective guidelines prevented the librarians from making subjective decisions on which materials should be available only by request.
Source: Long Island Coalition Against Censorship, "Censorship in Schools and Libraries" exhibit