Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF)
[Call for Nominations] 2020 Gordon M. Conable Conference Scholarship
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CHICAGO — Are you interested in Intellectual Freedom? Would you like to attend the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±app’s () Annual Conference in June and learn how the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) and other groups in are working to protect access to...
opposes proposed Tennessee law that threatens state’s freedom to read
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CHICAGO - Today the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±app () released the following statement regarding Tennessee HB 2721, which would require a parental oversight board to replace policies and library experts in the development of library collections and...
Library Privacy Guidelines for Assistive Technology
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These guidelines provide libraries with information about appropriate data management and security practices with respect to library users' personally identifiable information and data about their use of assistive technology in the library or at home.
OIF responds to Missouri legislation that proposes policies and procedures that threaten access to information
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CHICAGO – Missouri House Bill 2044, introduced on January 8, 2020, proposes the creation of five-member “parental library review boards” to identify “age-inappropriate” public library materials and restrict access to those materials. The bill proposes...
32 guides for teaching banned books
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CHICAGO — As standard-bearers for intellectual freedom, school and children’s librarians are in ideal positions to collaborate with educators to not only protect the freedom to read but also ensure that valued books which touch upon important topics are...
‘Share Your Censorship Story’: OIF encourages library workers to report 2019 challenges, bans
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The Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) encourages library workers to report censorship incidents and challenges to library or school materials and services that occurred in 2019 using an online form by December 31, 2019. Every submitted report provides...
"Report Censorship" Toolkit
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The °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±app encourages library workers and educators to amplify our message to "Report Censorship."
responds to county commission decision to deny digital access to New York Times in Citrus County public libraries
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CHICAGO – The °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±app has issued the following statement in response to the decision by the Citrus County (Florida) Board of Commissioners to not allow the Citrus County libraries to buy a digital subscription to the New York Times...
Intellectual Freedom Products
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A commitment to intellectual freedom transforms your library. actively advocates and educates in defense of intellectual freedom—the rights of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Intellectual freedom is a core value of the library profession, and a basic right in our democratic society. A publicly supported library provides free, equitable, and confidential access to information for all people of its community.
Deborah Caldwell-Stone appointed director, Office for Intellectual Freedom and executive director of the Freedom to Read Foundation
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CHICAGO – The °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±app () is pleased to announce the promotion of Deborah Caldwell-Stone to director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF). Deborah served as interim director of OIF since November, 2018. In her new role...
Libraries ‘Keep the Light On’ During Banned Books Week
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Don’t be left in the dark this Banned Books Week (Sept. 22-28, 2019). The °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±app’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) offers several resources and activities for libraries and readers that highlight the Banned Books Week 2019...
Revised and new intellectual freedom policies and resources available from , IFC
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In anticipation of a new edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual, the Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) revised several existing interpretations and resources and created new policies, guidelines and resources to address emerging intellectual...
Freedom to Read Foundation Announces Fall 2019 Course Scholarship Recipients
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Monica Cammack and Joann Elmiger are the recipients of the Freedom to Read Foundation’s Intellectual Freedom Course Scholarship. The recipients will receive funding toward intellectual freedom courses at San Jose State University (SJSU) and the University...
Freedom to Read Foundation announces five recipients of 2019 Banned Books Week event grants
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The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) awarded five $1000 grants to nonprofit institutions in support of 2019 Banned Books Week events (September 22-28, 2019) an annual event celebrating the Freedom to Read. The grants, a project of FTRF’s Judith F. Krug...
urges LinkedIn Learning to reconsider changes to terms of service that impair library users’ privacy rights
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CHICAGO - LinkedIn Learning — formerly Lynda.com, a platform used by libraries to provide online learning opportunities to library users — plans to make substantial changes to its terms of service that would significantly impair library users’ privacy...
Meeting Rooms Q&A
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Many libraries provide meeting rooms and other spaces designated for use by the public for meetings and other events as a service to their communities. This Q&A outlines the differences between varying public fora and examples of items a meeting room policy can cover. The Q&A also addresses sponsoring groups, political speech, contract violations, user eligibility, and fees.
Utah Library Association receives the 2019 Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award
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The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±app () announces that the Utah Library Association is the 2019 recipient of the Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award. The Utah Library Association (ULA)...
Laurie Halse Anderson joins Colson Whitehead in 'Reading Dangerously' at the Freedom to Read Foundation’s 50th Anniversary Celebration
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CHICAGO — New York Times bestselling author and intellectual freedom advocate Laurie Halse Anderson will speak at the Freedom to Read Foundation’s 50th Anniversary Celebration in Washington, D.C. on June 22, 2019. Anderson, recipient of the 2009 Margaret...
Six trustees elected to the Freedom to Read Foundation Board
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CHICAGO — Six people were elected to two-year terms on the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) Board of Trustees in the annual FTRF election held this past April. Current FTRF Vice President Emily Knox and Executive Committee member Robert Holley were both...
Beyond banned books
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CHICAGO — Equitable access to information for all, including underserved populations, is a core value of librarianship. The growing awareness of where this inequality persists has led many professionals to take steps to advance social justice within their...