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CHICAGO - The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is pleased to announce that Aubrey Madler, an information specialist with the University of North Dakota’s Center for Rural Health, is the third recipient of the Gordon M. Conable Conference Scholarship. The Conable Scholarship will provide for Madler’s expenses to attend the 2010 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.

In return for the scholarship, Madler will be expected to attend various FTRF and other intellectual freedom meetings and programs at the conference, consult with a mentor/board member and present a report about her experiences and thoughts. She will be recognized at the FTRF Annual Member Reception from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 24 in Room 149 A/B of the Washington Convention Center.

Madler holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Mayville State University and worked as a paraprofessional in libraries for several years prior to receiving her M.L.S. from Texas Women’s University in 2008. In her capacity at the Center for Rural Health, she provides reference services and maintains databases, online information guides and print collections for the Rural Assistance Center. She also serves on the Intellectual Freedom Committee of the North Dakota Library Association and maintains a blog in that capacity.

“Aubrey’s dedication to work with North Dakota’s rural communities is very impressive, as is her demonstrated commitment to intellectual freedom,” said Conable Scholarship committee Chair Candace Morgan. “As she stated in her application, she views intellectual freedom as a ‘great gift’ that librarians provide to our communities. We look to helping Aubrey gain tools to continue and expand her intellectual freedom work and to learn from her about the issues she sees in the communities she works with.”

The Conable Scholarship was created to advance two principles that Gordon Conable held dear: intellectual freedom and mentorship. Gordon Conable was a California librarian and intellectual freedom champion who served several terms as president of the Freedom to Read Foundation. His unexpected death in 2005 inspired his wife, Irene Conable, and the FTRF Board to create the , which provides funding for the Conable Scholarship.

To donate to the Conable Fund, please visit or call (800) 545-2433, ext. 4226.