Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF)
Frequently Challenged Children's Books Table
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The 's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) receives reports from libraries, schools, and the media on attempts to ban books in communities across the country. Lists of challenged books are compiled in order to inform the public about censorship efforts that affect libraries and schools. A common reason given for challenging a book is “inappropriate.” Authors such as Alvin Schwartz, Mildred D. Taylor and Roald Dahl are listed more than once on this list of frequently challenged children’s books.
OIF Seeks Information on 2020 Censorship Incidents
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, libraries and schools continue to face censorship attempts. The Office for Intellectual Freedom is seeking information on any ban or request to remove library or school materials, displays, and programs that happened in...
Join Privacy Experts in Town Hall on Surveillance in Academic Libraries
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Discussion of the possibility of surveillance in university libraries has caused concern and sparked conversations among library workers and other privacy and intellectual freedom advocates. Join privacy experts in a discussion about working with...
Statement on Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping
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CHICAGO - On September 22, the White House issued its Executive Order On Combating Race And Sex Stereotyping, prohibiting federal employees, contractors, and grant recipients from discussing or considering concepts such as critical race theory and white...
Nominations open for 2021 IFRT John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award
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The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) is accepting nominations for the 2021 John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award. This award, presented annually, honors notable contributions to intellectual freedom and demonstrations of personal courage in defense...
releases list of Top 100 Most Banned and Challenged Books of the decade
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CHICAGO – Today, the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±app’s () Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) released the Top 100 Most Banned and Challenged Books from the past decade. The list’s release launches Banned Books Week, Sept. 27 – Oct. 3, a vibrant week of...
#BannedBooksWeek in Action
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#BannedBooksWeek in Action invites readers to participate in a different activity that spotlights literary activism each day of Banned Books Week (September 27 - October 3).
Top 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books: 2010-2019
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's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) receives reports from libraries, schools, and the media on attempts to ban books in communities across the country. We compile lists of challenged books in order to inform the public about censorship efforts that affect libraries and schools. This list includes the 100 most frequently challenged books of the decade 2010-2019.
Legal and Legislative Update Webinar
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For over fifty years, the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) has been at the forefront of legislative issues -- whether it's fighting a book challenge, protecting access to information, or defending free speech as provided under the First Amendment. Join...
FTRF Hosts Webinar on Collecting and Protecting LGBTQ+ Materials and Programs
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Public and school libraries experience the most challenges to materials, and in 2019 eight out of the top ten most challenged books were on that list for having LGBTQ+ content. While some schools and libraries were or are physically closed due to the...
IFC, United for Libraries Host Free Webinar on Vendor Negotiation that Supports Privacy, Intellectual Freedom
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Libraries are well versed in protecting intellectual freedom as it pertains to books, but many do not have similar policies for online resources and services. Digital library collections are often provided by third-party vendors, who may have different...
Freedom to Read Foundation Announces Recipients of Fall 2020 Intellectual Freedom Course Scholarships
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Amanda Barnhart, chair of the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) Education Committee, announced four scholarship recipients who will receive funding toward an intellectual freedom course at FTRF partner institution San Jose State University (SJSU) this...
's IFC Approves New Guidelines on Contact Tracing, Reopening Libraries, Video Surveillance
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Responding to health and privacy concerns during the reopening of libraries and recent discussions of video surveillance and filming in libraries, the Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) and its Privacy Subcommittee have approved guidelines to assist...
Video Surveillance in the Library Guidelines
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Libraries should develop policies that clearly address all forms of video surveillance that may occur in their spaces, make those policies publicly available, and give notice to both staff and the public when those policies are adopted or amended.
Guidelines for Reopening Libraries During the COVID-19 Pandemic
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As public libraries make plans to phase in reopening during the Covid-19 pandemic, they must consider how best to balance the safety of staff and patrons with the mission of providing the community with access to the resources traditionally offered by the library. In drafting plans to phase in reopening and policies to govern use of the library during these unprecedented times, public libraries should take the following steps
Guidelines on Contact Tracing, Health Checks, and Library Users’ Privacy
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Confronted with a global health emergency and civil unrest, now more than ever we must ensure that our libraries continue to provide uninterrupted, safe, and confidential access to our services, in accordance with our core values and the laws that protect the confidentiality of library users’ information.
Privacy During a Pandemic: Town Hall for Library, Information Workers for Choose Privacy Week
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CHICAGO – When states and local governments closed libraries and schools to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic, library workers and educators responded to the emergency by quickly adopting commercial online tools and platforms to ensure continued access to...
Intellectual freedom stories from a shifting landscape
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CHICAGO — Intellectual freedom is a complex concept that democracies and free societies around the world define in different ways but always strive to uphold. And has long recognized the crucial role that libraries play in protecting this right. But...
Freedom to Read Foundation Launches Webinar Series
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The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) will be conducting a webinar series over the next few months to provide online education focused on intellectual freedom for library professionals. These webinars will be geared towards librarians, library students...
welcomes LinkedIn Learning’s changes to terms of service
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CHICAGO – After conversations with the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±app () and other industry leaders, LinkedIn Learning — formerly Lynda.com, a platform used by libraries to provide online learning opportunities to library users —announced today that it...