“The freedom to read is essential to our democracy. It is continuously under attack… These actions apparently arise from a view that our national tradition of free expression is no longer valid; that censorship and suppression are needed to avoid the subversion of politics and the corruption of morals.”

Freedom should never be equated with license. This quote seems to give license to the pornographers. Such a dismissive attitude towards the protection of, and encouragement of, good morals - justly deserves the condemnation of all. Censorship is not a four letter word and communities have the right to guard their moral standards. I wonder of the competency of an organization that in error calls America a democracy. This quote seems only to compound their ignorance.

There are a great number of religious zealots who would not only burn books but people in defense of 'morality'. Pictures of the naked human body are not 'obscene' or 'immoral'. The same First Amendment that protects religionists writings and pictures protects everyone else's rights as well. "Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech." The government has not been given the power to censor or prohibit speech -- period. Whether a citizen can handle the sight of a penis is not the government's concern. Licenses are only required to break the law -- there is no law to break, so no license is required. Libraries need no license to operate.

1. We are a republic, not a democracy! 2. A well read Public, being necessary to the education of a free State, the right of the people to keep and read Books, shall not be infringed.

Using the terms freedom and democracy in the same sentence here demonstrates an oxymoron. The author's perspective derives from and, expresses a major element of freedom / liberty / rights / knowledge of nature's law LOSS. When the "American Library Association" promotes ignorance, misdirection and misinformation, it is truly a sign of a once free ideology that is now in big trouble.

Whenever I hear the phrase "our democracy" I cringe.  It is a fallacious description of American government.  Freedom to read and freedom to publish does not necessarily promote freedom.  Lies, misdirection, opinions stated as facts, banned books all play a part in the "programming" of a people.  Be discerning with the programming offered you — it is no accident.