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INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM
BANNING BOOKS GIVE US SILENCE WHEN WE NEED SPEECH. IT CLOSES OUR EARS WHEN WE NEED TO LISTEN. IT MAKES US BLIND WHEN WE NEED SIGHT.
-Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky, 1990
For support, contact the Intellectual Freedom Committee at intellectualfreedom@molib.org.
MLA IFC TRAINING MATERIALS
ALL TRAINING MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE MLA MEMBERSHIP. PLEASE EMAIL US FOR THE LINKS. WE ALWAYS WELCOME FEEDBACK OR SUGGESTIONS FOR BETTER THE CONTENT AND UPDATING OUR PRACTICAL & EVERYDAY SCENARIOS, PLEASE EMAIL THE IFC CHAIR WITH ANY COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE COMMITTEE.
THE IFC IS AVAILABLE TO FACILITATE ONE, TWO, OR THREE-HOUR WORKSHOPS.
PLEASE EMAIL THE IFC CHAIR FOR SCHEDULING AND ANY QUESTIONS.
Review on our IF training:
So, one of my last acts as library director here, was to ask the Intellectual Freedom committee from MLA to come and do a shortened version of their workshop on intellectual freedom for our board and staff. It is a wonderful opportunity to communicate what seems to be a very complex and complicated concept and make it understandable and easily applicable to everyday library life. So that when you get someone who might be belligerent or aggressive to your front-line staff, they have the tools to respond calmly, consistently, and without personal judgements. I, and the new library director, took the three-hour workshop at MLA, because it all sounds very intimidating when you first start out, and you feel like you don't even understand what half those concepts mean. I strongly recommend the workshop. Four of my five board members texted me before I had even gotten home to tell me how beneficial they felt it was. It presents ways to be proactive when a situation arises, instead of reactive, to turn a negative situation into a positive response and maybe even gain an ally, instead of someone who is antagonistic toward libraries and librarians.
Judy Garrett, Library Director
December 2023
The Intellectual Freedom Helpline!
The Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL)and Missouri Library Association just launched our joint project to provide greater support to Missouri librarians and library staff for intellectual freedom in their daily work. This project called The Intellectual Freedom Helpline, and is part of a larger effort to preserve intellectual freedom, protect First Amendment rights, and strengthen support for librarians across the nation. Librarians or library workers experiencing intellectual freedom issues including book challenges, first amendment audits, privacy infringements or other problems related to intellectual freedom may use this link to report those issues and receive support. Reporting is confidential. Report and get support!
The Intellectual Freedom Helpline is funded by the Mellon Foundation and Action Family Giving and grants are awarded by the ALA.
ALA and IF Support Links:
- ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom
- Challenge Reporting
- IF Issues: Issues and Resources
- LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund (for library workers denied employment)
- Intellectual Freedom Helpline (MLA/MASL)- Report and get support!
DIRECT LINKS TO ALA INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM GUIDING DOCUMENTS
- Library Bill of Rights
- Freedom to Read Statement (ALA)
- Freedom to View (ALA)
- Code of Ethics of the American Library Association (ALA)
- Core Values of Librarianship (ALA)
- Access to Electronic Services and Networks (ALA)
- Statement on Library Use of Filtering Software (ALA)
- Children's Internet Protection Act - CIPA (ALA)
- E-Rate and Universal Service (ALA)
- USA Patriot Act (ALA)
- How to Respond to Challenges (ALA)
THE MLA IFC
Duties:
- Monitor legislation and other efforts that affect first amendment rights to libraries, librarians, and their clientele.
- Encourage libraries to protect those rights by:
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- Adopting ALA's Freedom to Read Statement, Library Bill of Rights, and other statements adopted by the American Library Association and endorsed by the Missouri Library Association.
- Adopting selection and collection development policies that protect against challenges.
- Providing training opportunities with regard to intellectual freedom issues.
- Support and implement the MLA Statement on Intellectual Freedom.
- Assist and support MLA members in intellectual freedom concerns as requested.
Duties outlined in the MLA Handbook.
2025 Intellectual Freedom Committee Chair – Joe Kohlburn (intellectualfreedom@molib.org)
2023 DOWNS INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AWARD! The MLA-IFC won the 2023 Downs Intellectual Freedom Award! The Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom Award is presented annually to individuals or groups who have furthered the cause of intellectual freedom, particularly as it affects libraries and information centers and the dissemination of ideas. It was established in 1969 by the iSchool's faculty to honor Robert Downs, a champion of intellectual freedom, on his twenty-fifth anniversary as director of the School. More here.
MLA Intellectual Freedom Committee members at Downs Award Ceremony at ALA Annual Conference. (Left to Right): 2022 Chair Joe Kohlburn, Rachelle Brandel, Kimberly Moeller, 2023 Chair Colleen Norman, 2024 Chair Casey Phillips. Not pictured: Kris Dyer, Otter Bowman, Cindy Hohl, and Krystal Smith. |
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