INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM A Library Core Value WHAT IS

INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM A Library Core Value

WHAT IS INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM? • According to the ALA Intellectual Freedom is: ALA 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. • This information as well as more detailed information can be found on the ALA website. http: //www. ala. org/advocacy/intfreedom

WHAT DOES INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM MEAN TO YOU? • Intellectual Freedom has many different meanings depending on how it is being used and who is using it. What are some examples of intellectual freedom that you have seen in your life? • In the following video clip from the recent riots in Ferguson do you consider what is said by Michael Brown’s step-father intellectual freedom? • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=y. UQ 73 NI-Krc

BANNED BOOKS-INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM OR PERSONAL PREFERENCE • In looking at banned books specifically in the United States one can see the reasons for banning books has changed over time. In this article from Banned Books That Shaped America you can see that many of the books that were once banned are now part of standard curriculum in schools. http: //www. bannedbooksweek. org/censorship/bannedbooksthatshapedamerica • In a similar article Censorship in Libraries and Classrooms: Myths and Realities a more recent example of censorship can be found. It states “A few years ago, the NAACP unsuccessfully sought to have the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary redefine the “N” word and limit it to its offensive connotation. (The publisher refused to limit the definition since over time it has had many different meanings). ” (http: //bannedbooksweek. org/node/8015)

CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2015 • Every year the ALA has a list of the top challenged books as submitted to them. This link to the ALA website has the detailed information of the list for 2015 as well as the previous years. • http: //www. ala. org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top 10 • For more detailed information on banned books and censorship the ALA also provides more information here http: //www. ala. org/bbooks/

A BRIEF ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM • These articles bring to light how important intellectual freedom is it is viewed from numerous different sources. • The following links are available freely on the web for more detailed reading. • Adams, Helen R. (April 2011). The Intellectual Freedom Calendar: Another Advocacy Plan for the School Library. Retrieved from http: //www. schoollibrarymonthly. com/articles/Adams 2011 -v 28 n 7 p 52. html • American Library Association. (March 2015). Intellectual Freedom. Retrieved from http: //www. ala. org/advocacy/intfreedom/censorshipfirstamendmentissues/ifcensorshipqanda • Buschman, John. (September-October 2009). Who Defends Intellectual Freedom for Librarians? . Retrieved from http: //www. aaup. org/article/who-defends-intellectual-freedomlibrarians#. VRLKBbo. Q 78 s

CONTINUED ANNOTATION OF INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM • California Library Association. (2014). Zoia Horn Intellectual Freedom Award. Retrieved from http: //www. cla-net. org/? page=118 • Columbus State Library. (2014). 044. Retrieved from http: //library. cscc. edu/c. php? g=126678&p=828049 • Common. Knowledge. (2015). Intellectual Freedom Issues in Oregon: A News Database. Retrieved from http: //commons. pacificu. edu/iforegon/ • Graduate School of Library and Information Science. (December 2014). 2014 Downs Award given to Orland Park Public Library staff, board of trustees. Retrieved from http: //www. lis. illinois. edu/articles/2014/12/2014 -downs-award-given-orlandpark-public-library-staff-board-trustees • Ilovelibraries. (2015). Censorship. Retrieved from http: //www. ilovelibraries. org/getinvolved/key-issues/censorship.

INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM IN A NUTSHELL • Intellectual freedom is the right of every individual to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction. (http: //www. ala. org/advocacy/intfreedom/censorshipfirstamendmentissues/ifcensors hipqanda) This means that everyone is entitled to find and view the information that they want as long as it isn’t with the intent to cause harm. • Questions? Comments? Current issues of intellectual freedom that you have heard recently? What do you think the role of a librarian should be in the pursuit of intellectual freedom?

REFERENCES • (2016) Intellectual Freedom http: //www. ala. org/advocacy/intfreedom • (2014, Nov. 25) Mike Brown's stepdad shouts 'Burn this b**** down’ Retrieved from https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=y. UQ 73 NI-Krc • (2016) Banned Books That Shaped America. Retrieved from http: //www. bannedbooksweek. org/censorship/bannedbooksthatshapedamerica • Censorship in Libraries and Classrooms: Myths and Realities. (2014, Sept. 18) Retrieved from http: //bannedbooksweek. org/node/8015 • California Library Association. (2014). Zoia Horn Intellectual Freedom Award. Retrieved from http: //www. cla-net. org/? page=118 • Columbus State Library. (2014). 044. Retrieved from http: //library. cscc. edu/c. php? g=126678&p=828049 • Common. Knowledge. (2015). Intellectual Freedom Issues in Oregon: A News Database. Retrieved from http: //commons. pacificu. edu/iforegon/ • Graduate School of Library and Information Science. (December 2014). 2014 Downs Award given to Orland Park Public Library staff, board of trustees. Retrieved from http: //www. lis. illinois. edu/articles/2014/12/2014 -downs-award-given-orland-park-public-library -staff-board-trustees • Ilovelibraries. (2015). Censorship. Retrieved from http: //www. ilovelibraries. org/get-involved/key-issues/censorship. • Intellectual freedom is the right of every individual to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction. (http: //www. ala. org/advocacy/intfreedom/censorshipfirstamendmentissues/ifcensorshipqanda)