intellectual freedom
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Chatting About Book Bans With The Library’s Librarians
In recent years, school and public libraries around the nation have grappled with attempts by individuals and coordinated groups to restrict community access to certain book titles they find objectionable. As Banned Books Week draws to a close, we had the opportunity to discuss censorship and intellectual freedom with our selection services librarians, the people responsible for… Continue reading
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Know Your Rights: Intellectual Freedom & Libraries
The public library as an institution is charged with providing access to information, regardless of content. In doing so, the library stands firm in upholding the First Amendment and the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights. This is why, as Jo Godwin famously stated, “A truly great library contains something in it to offend everyone.”… Continue reading
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Join us for the 4th Annual Banned! Books in Drag
In September, libraries put up their Banned Books Week displays that highlight the freedom to read, because every year books are challenged and banned due to their content. Books that explore themes of race, sexuality and gender are often the most challenged books in libraries across the country. So, it makes perfect sense to celebrate… Continue reading
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I’ve Got a Secret: Intellectual freedom and you.
Intellectual Freedom can mean many things: the right to read scandalous or subversive books, patron privacy, and access to information. Today I want to focus on access to information – and more specifically, government information. When politicians talk about government transparency, what do they mean, exactly? What kind of information is given to the public… Continue reading