LibGuides: Censorship: Background Information

Background Information

Censorship is the suppression of any form of communication a controlling body deems objectionable. Use the following sources to learn more about the manifestations of censorship, the reasoning used by censors, and the legal issues and challenges that surround it.

CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window
This tool gives overviews of major topic areas (including censorship). Find articles, lists of other resources, as well as Pro and Con sides for most topics.
Britannica Academic This link opens in a new window
Contains general information on censorship and related issues such as academic freedom in the United States and in other countries.

New Dictionary on the History of Ideas
A six-volume survey of the history of Western thought and culture, presented through 700 alphabetically arranged entries, including censorship.
Gale Encyclopedia of American Law
Covers today's leading cases, major statutes, legal terms and concepts, notable persons involved with the law, and important documents.
The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Cultural and Intellectual History
Offers a record of the nation’s values, aspirations, anxieties, and beliefs as expressed in both everyday life and formal bodies of thought.
The Oxford Companion to the Book
A work of reference covering the book, broadly conceived, throughout the world from ancient to modern times and includes information on book censorship.