Volume 12, No 2, 2015
The impact of information and communication technologies on book challenge trends in the United States: An analysis
Ravi Narayanaswamy and Kari D. Weaver
Abstract
The rapid growth of information and communication technologies (ICT), such as personal computing, the explosive proliferation of computing devices, and widespread availability of the Internet, has led to a sea change in the way individuals access and interact with information Inasmuch, ICT has not only changed the reading behavior but also the reading choices. This study empirically explores how ICT has impacted the number of banned books, individuals’ opinions about banned books, and the retention of banned books. The data collected by American Library Association about book banning across the United States since 1990’s is used to examine the research objectives. The findings reveal that book challenges are on the decline in the United States, although the path is by no means straight and clear. As ICT adoption has grown within the US, it has impacted the success of book banning activities across the country and the tactics used to challenge books.
Pages: 1-13
Keywords: Information and communication technology; Internet; Information access; Banned books