Navigating the New Normal?
Book Bans and Challenges in the USA

Emily Drabinski is Associate Professor and Chair of the Queens College School of Information Studies at the City University of New York. She publishes and presents widely on topics related to knowledge organization, collective power, and critical perspectives in librarianship. From 2023-2024 Drabinski served as President of the American Library Association.

Maude Hines is Professor of English, Chair of Black Studies, and affiliated faculty of Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies at Portland State University.  She received her Ph.D. in Literature from Duke University, along with graduate certificates in African-American Studies and Women's Studies. She specializes in American literature, with particular emphasis on critical childhood studies, African American literature, and the Gothic.

Kelly Jensen works at the intersections of writing, censorship, mental health, literature, and feminism. She is the author of three critically acclaimed and award-winning anthologies for young adults. At Book Riot, she focuses on talking about book industry news, publishing, libraries, censorship, and young adult literature. She was named a person of the year in 2022 by Publishers Weekly and a Chicagoan of the year in 2022 by the Chicago Tribune for her anti-censorship work. She has also earned commendation from the American Association of School Librarians for her censorship coverage.

Corinna Norrick-Rühl is professor and Chair of Book Studies at the English Department of Münster University. She is founder of the Banned Books Network Münster, along with Sivlia Schultermandl (Chair of American Studies) and co-founders Dr. Sarah Pyke and Dr. Jennifer Gouck (WiRe Fellow). Her research focuses on book publishing and culture, including celebrity book culture, contemporary publishing, children’s and YA literature, and literary prize culture.