Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF)

IFRT Opens Nominations for 2025 John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award

BGOMEZ — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 15:44:46 +0000

IFRT Opens Nominations for 2025 John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award

The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) is accepting nominations for the 2025 John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award, which honors notable contributions to intellectual freedom and demonstrations of personal courage in defense of freedom of expression.

For more information on criteria of the award, past recipients, or to submit a nomination (self-nominations are accepted), please visit the visit the John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award page. The deadline for submitting a nomination is March 1, 2025.

John Phillip Immroth was a teacher, author, scholar, advocate, and defender of First Amendment rights. He was the founder and first chair of the Intellectual Freedom Round Table in 1973. Established upon Immroth’s death in 1979, the award honors the courage, dedication, and contribution of a living individual, group, or organization that has set the finest kind of example for the defense and furtherance of the principles of intellectual freedom.

The award winner will be announced in the spring of 2025. IFRT will present the award during the 2025 91��ý Annual Conference in Philadelphia. The award consists of a certificate of recognition and $500 cash award.

The Immroth Award is administered by the John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award Committee, which includes Eldon Ray James, chair; Michael Blackwell; Matthew Good, Kristin Pekoll; and Samuel Rumore.

About the Intellectual Freedom Round Table

The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) provides a forum for the discussion of activities, programs, and problems in intellectual freedom of libraries and librarians; serves as a channel of communications on intellectual freedom matters; promotes a greater opportunity for involvement among the members of the 91��ý in defense of intellectual freedom; promotes a greater feeling of responsibility in the implementation of 91��ý policies on intellectual freedom. For more information, visit www.ala.org/rt/ifrt

About the 91��ý (91��ý)

The 91��ý (91��ý) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the 91��ý has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.

BGOMEZ Tue, 11/26/2024 - 09:44

Awards (Professional Recognition)

Annual Conference

Contact:

Betsy Gomez

Staff Liaison

bgomez@ala.org

91��ý, Writers Guild Initiative Announce Creative Writing Workshops for Librarians

BGOMEZ — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 15:37:30 +0000

91��ý, Writers Guild Initiative Announce Creative Writing Workshops for Librarians

The 91��ý’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (91��ý-OIF) and the Writers Guild Initiative (WGI) are seeking 25 librarians for a unique series of online writer’s workshops that will pair the librarians with professional film and television writers. The workshops will provide participating librarians the opportunity to write, create, and make their voices heard under the tutelage of skilled writers. All librarians are invited to apply, and 25 librarians will be randomly selected to participate in the workshop series. Applications are open now through December 16, 2024, and there will be four workshops scheduled from Saturday, February 1 through March 8, 2025.

The workshops are supported and administered through the WGI’s Helen Deutsch Writing Workshops and will consist of four three-hour virtual sessions. Those registered will be placed in smaller groups of 5-7 participants, and each smaller group will have a pair of writing mentors. Participants are encouraged to write about whatever they wish, and all work created in the workshops belongs solely to the participant who writes it. Everything shared is confidential.

Author Peter Parnell and librarian Amanda Jones inspired the creation of the writers’ workshops. Both have been active in their respective fields for many years. Most recently, they have been thrown into new roles, fighting against censorship aimed at silencing their voices and their creative works. They approached the WGI and 91��ý to facilitate this workshop collaboration.

“In the fight against book bans, librarians are the bravest people I know. I’m thrilled to be collaborating with the indomitable Amanda Jones, the Writers Guild Initiative, and the 91��ý Office for Intellectual Freedom in creating a writing workshop for librarians, helping encourage those who are daily defending the work of writers to become writers themselves,” said Parnell.

“I am beyond honored to be included with Peter Parnell, the Writers Guild Initiative and 91��ý in the pilot program for the Librarians Workshop. There’s a writer inside each of us, and it is important to tell our stories,” said Jones.

“Each day the staff of the Office for Intellectual Freedom supports librarians on the front lines of the censorship battle, and we’re privileged to witness their courage and determination,” said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of 91��ý’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. “We’re grateful to be able to partner with Peter, Amanda, and the WGI to provide them with an opportunity to lift up their voices and amplify their stories.”

Since 2008, the WGI’s Helen Deutsch Writing Workshops have brought professional film and television writers together with underserved communities to encourage self-expression through writing. The WGI has partnered with various organizations to provide writing workshops for wounded veterans, family caregivers of veterans, immigrant youth, LGBTQ asylum seekers, people living with chronic illness, and many others. WGI workshops link accomplished professional writers with members of marginalized communities facing significant challenges. Mentors are accomplished professional writers who are exceptionally skilled at their craft, have innovative teaching styles, and include Pulitzer prize-winners, Emmy and Peabody award-winners, MacArthur and Guggenheim fellows.

Each workshop is tailored to meet the specific needs of that community. WGI’s goal is for participants to use writing to reflect on experiences, share insights, identify a path forward, and make their voices heard. Many of these groups suffer from PTSD and other trauma and have found our workshops to be engaging and helpful. While the professional writers are not therapists, they are artists who provide safe spaces to write, create, and build trust and community.

Participants should be able to attend all four online sessions which take place on: February 1, 2025, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. EST, Saturday, February 15, 2025, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. EST, Saturday, February 22, 2025, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. EST, Saturday, March 8, 2025, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. EST.

Apply here today! Applications are open through midnight EST on December 16 and attendees will be notified on Friday, December 20, 2024.

For more information contact WGI Director Chiara Montalto-Giannini at cmontaltogiannini@wgaeast.org or 91��ý staff member Joyce McIntosh at jmcintosh@ala.org.

BGOMEZ Tue, 11/26/2024 - 09:37

Awards (Scholarships & Grants)

Partnerships

Public Awareness

Contact:

Joyce McIntosh

Program Officer

jmcintosh@ala.org

91��ý reveals preliminary data on 2024 book challenges

RAGARCIA — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 10:04:43 +0000

91��ý reveals preliminary data on 2024 book challenges

New data shows a slowdown in challenge reports

CHICAGO – The 91��ý has released preliminary data documenting attempts to censor books and materials in public, school, and academic libraries during the first eight months of 2024 in preparation for Banned Books Week (September 22-28, 2024).

Between January 1 and August 31, 2024, 91��ý’s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 414 attempts to censor library materials and services. In those cases, 1,128 unique titles were challenged. In the same reporting period last year, 91��ý tracked 695 attempts with 1,915 unique titles challenged. Though the number of reports to date has declined in 2024, the number of documented attempts to censor books continues to far exceed the numbers prior to 2020. Additionally, instances of soft censorship, where books are purchased but placed in restricted areas, not used in library displays, or otherwise hidden or kept off limits due to fear of challenges illustrate the impact of organized censorship campaigns on students’ and readers’ freedom to read. In some circumstances, books have been preemptively excluded from library collections, taken off the shelves before they are banned, or not purchased for library collections in the first place.

“As these preliminary numbers show, we must continue to stand up for libraries and challenge censorship wherever it occurs,” said 91��ý President Cindy Hohl. “We know library professionals throughout the country are committed to preserving our freedom to choose what we read and what our children read, even though many librarians face criticism and threats to their livelihood and safety. We urge everyone to join librarians in defending the freedom to read. We know people don’t like being told what they are allowed to read, and we’ve seen communities come together to fight back and protect their libraries and schools from the censors.”

The Office for Intellectual Freedom compiles data on book challenges from reports by library professionals in the field and from news stories published throughout the United States. Because many book challenges are not reported to the 91��ý or covered by the press, the 2024 data compiled by 91��ý represents only a snapshot of book censorship throughout the first eight months of the year.

As 91��ý continues to document the harms of censorship, we celebrate those whose advocacy and support are helping to end censorship in our libraries.

Success in Courts

While several states have recently passed legislation placing potentially unconstitutional restrictions on access to school and public library materials, lawsuits challenging such provisions on constitutional grounds have begun to overturn these laws and restore students’ and library users’ essential freedoms.

In Arkansas, state legislators passed a law that opened librarians and bookstore owners to criminal prosecution unless they removed materials deemed unsuitable for the youngest of minors from shelves intended to serve older minors and adults. The law also mandated that public libraries adopt procedures allowing books to be challenged based on their “appropriateness,” a statutorily undefined term not based on constitutional standards. This provision would have allowed one person’s opinion to limit the reading choices of everyone else in the community and would have encouraged review boards to engage in content-based discrimination. The Freedom to Read Foundation, a nonprofit legal affiliate with 91��ý, joined a consortium of Arkansas libraries, library workers, and library advocates to challenge the law under the First Amendment. Together they secured a preliminary injunction from the federal district court that halted enforcement of Arkansas Act 372 from taking effect as the court considered their arguments. They continue to fight the legal battle to permanently stop the law from being enforced.

Advocacy in the Community

North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District in New Jersey faced several attempts to remove books from its shelves. Most recently the district’s board of education defeated an effort to remove “Let’s Talk About It, The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human (A Graphic Novel)" by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan. Martha Hickson, a librarian at North Hunterdon High School, has been on the frontlines standing up against censorship attacks. A group of community advocates, the NH-V Intellectual Freedom Fighters, banded together in opposition to these efforts to restrict students’ right to read. They wrote letters and spoke out at board meetings. The Freedom to Read Foundation also sent a letter to the school administrators supporting the work of school librarians and defending students’ rights. Efforts of these advocates helped preserve access not only to “Let’s Talk About It” but to numerous other titles, as well.

Young Heroes

As a student, Julia Garnett fought book bans in her home state of Tennessee. She advocated for student representation on book review committees and served on her school’s review committee. In October 2023, Garnett was honored for her advocacy for the freedom to read by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden during a ceremony at the White House. She is also a leader in the National Coalition Against Censorship's Student Advocates for Speech program, educating other students about advocacy. Garnett is serving as the Youth Honorary Chair for Banned Books Week 2024.

“All of these librarians, community members, students, plaintiffs, and educators demonstrate how we can all stem the tide of censorship by quietly, courageously taking action in our communities,” said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of 91��ý’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. “These successes are a sign that our work is making a difference and must continue in order to continue to drive the decrease in documented censorship attempts. We cannot rest. The fight to defend our rights is one we can never relinquish.”

The theme for Banned Books Week 2024 is “Freed Between the Lines,” an observance of the freedom we find in the pages of books and the need to defend that freedom from censorship.

A day of action will be held September 28 — Let Freedom Read Day — which will focus on voting, from registering to vote and understanding what’s on the ballot to making sure communities are informed about their rights. Everyone is encouraged to do at least one thing on September 28 to fight censorship. Here’s where you can find ideas about how to get involved and other resources.

In February 2024, Unite Against Book Bans launched a free collection of book résumés to support librarians, educators, parents, students, and other community advocates in their efforts to keep frequently challenged books on shelves. Since launch, the resource has been viewed more than 200,000 times.

About the 91��ý

RAGARCIA Mon, 09/23/2024 - 05:04

Intellectual Freedom

Public Awareness

Contact:

Communications, Marketing & Media Relations Office

cmomedia@ala.org

91��ý Hosts Historic Intellectual Freedom Summit at the Library of Congress

RAGARCIA — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 14:43:44 +0000

91��ý Hosts Historic Intellectual Freedom Summit at the Library of Congress

Event Forge Collaborative Playbook to Address Censorship Challenges and Protect Free Expression

WASHINGTON - The 91��ý (91��ý) convened a third Intellectual Freedom Summit in its nearly 150-year history, bringing together national organizations, publishing allies, educational institutions, foundations, authors and other champions of intellectual freedom. The event, which was held at the Library of Congress on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, aims to forge strong partnerships and shape strategy to battle the rising tides of censorship.

“As we gathered at the world’s largest library, we identified strategies to respond to the withdrawal and censorship of information,” said Cindy Hohl, president of the 91��ý. “We are joining forces to lift ourselves and ultimately our country above the fray of polarization and politicization of access to information.”

The last 91��ý Intellectual Freedom Summit, held in 1953, produced the seminal Freedom to Read Statement, a vital document published in response to the censorship pressures of the McCarthy era. That statement, enthusiastically approved by the American Book Publishers Council, remains a foundational text for the protection of intellectual freedom in America.

This year’s summit builds on that legacy, inviting a broad and diverse coalition of voices to collaborate on a new playbook that addresses emerging censorship challenges. New and traditional allies will work together to ensure that all Americans, regardless of political perspective or belief, can continue to be a free people who read freely.

91��ý recognizes the importance of including voices from across the spectrum of beliefs, political ideologies, and experiences to inform this critical work. For more information on summit attendees and speakers, visit freepeoplereadfreely.org.

The 91��ý’s mission is “to provide leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all."

About the 91��ý

RAGARCIA Wed, 09/18/2024 - 09:43

Intellectual Freedom

Contact:

Jean Hodges

Director

Communications, Marketing and Media Relations

cmomedia@ala.org

91��ý to Host Historic Intellectual Freedom Summit at the Library of Congress

test-ala-admin — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 14:07:42 +0000

91��ý to Host Historic Intellectual Freedom Summit at the Library of Congress

Event to Forge Collaborative Playbook to Address Censorship Challenges and Protect Free Expression

WASHINGTON - The 91��ý (91��ý) is convening a third Intellectual Freedom Summit in its nearly 150-year history, bringing together national organizations, publishing allies, educational institutions, foundations, authors and other champions of intellectual freedom. The event, which will be held at the Library of Congress on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, aims to forge strong partnerships and shape strategy to battle against the rising tides of censorship.

“When we gather at the world’s largest library, we will identify strategies to respond to the withdrawal and censorship of information,” said Cindy Hohl, president of the 91��ý. “We will join forces to lift ourselves and ultimately our country above the fray of polarization and politicization of access to information.”

The last 91��ý Intellectual Freedom Summit, held in 1953, produced the seminal Freedom to Read Statement, a vital document published in response to the censorship pressures of the McCarthy era. That statement, developed in collaboration with the American Book Publishers Council, remains a foundational text for the protection of intellectual freedom in America.

This year’s summit will build on that legacy, inviting a broad and diverse coalition of voices to collaborate on a new playbook that addresses emerging censorship challenges. New and traditional allies will work together to ensure that all Americans, regardless of political perspective or belief, can continue to be a free people who read freely for the next 150 years.

About the 91��ý

Limited press availability will take place immediately after the event. For further information or press inquiries, please contact:

Jean Hodges
Director of Communications, Marketing and Media Relations
91��ý
jhodges@ala.org or cmomedia@ala.org

test-ala-admin Mon, 09/16/2024 - 09:07

Advocacy

Intellectual Freedom

Contact:

Jean Hodges

Director of Communications

Marketing and Media Relations

cmomedia@ala.org

Banned Books from the Big Chair returns for 2024 91��ý Annual Conference & Exhibition

JCARMICHAEL — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:07:05 +0000

Banned Books from the Big Chair returns for 2024 91��ý Annual Conference & Exhibition

Sage, the 91��ý, the Banned Books Week Coalition, and Unite Against Book Bans are partnering to bring Banned Books from the Big Chair back to the 2024 91��ý Annual Conference and Exhibition!

To counter the unparalleled rise in censorship attempts in libraries and schools, Sage and its partners reimagined the banned books video read out with Banned Books from the Big Chair – an opportunity for 91��ý Annual attendees to share their love for banned books by reading them from a very big chair!

Everyone is invited to the Banned Books from the Big Chair booth in Lobby E of the San Diego Convention Center (near the 91��ý Connect booth and the main Exhibits entrance), to record videos of themselves reading from their favorite banned book, make a call to action, and be “Freed Between the Lines” together! Join us on Saturday and Sunday during exhibit hours (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) to participate in the video readout. You can bring your own copy of a banned book, but 91��ý’s Office for Intellectual Freedom has graciously lent titles from its own collection for use in the read out.

The Banned Books from the Big Chair videos will be shared on YouTube as a part of Banned Books Week 2024, which takes place September 22-28. The theme of Banned Books Week 2024 is Freed Between the Lines, a reminder that we find ourselves, each other, and freedom in reading. The right to read is a shared value that we can all celebrate, but book bans and other attempts to limit information in libraries and schools threaten our rights and freedoms. Find out more at ala.org/bbooks.

Banned Books from the Big Chair is sponsored by Sage in partnership with 91��ý, the Banned Books Week Coalition, and Unite Against Book Bans.

About Sage
Sage is a global academic publisher of books, journals, and library resources with a growing range of technologies to enable discovery, access, and engagement. Believing that research and education are critical in shaping society, 24-year-old Sara Miller McCune founded Sage in 1965. Today, we are controlled by a group of trustees charged with maintaining our independence and mission indefinitely.

Our guaranteed independence means we’re free to:

Do more – supporting an equitable academic future, furthering disciplines that drive social change, and helping social and behavioral science make an impact
Work together – building lasting relationships, championing diverse perspectives, and co-creating resources to transform teaching and learning
Think long-term – experimenting, taking risks, and investing in new ideas

About Banned Books Week Coalition
The Banned Books Week Coalition is an international alliance of diverse organizations joined by a commitment to increase awareness about censorship attempts and to encourage the defense of the freedom to read. The Coalition seeks to engage various communities and inspire participation in Banned Books Week through education, advocacy, and the creation of programming about the problem of book censorship. BannedBooksWeek.org

About Unite Against Book Bans
Unite Against Book Bans is a national initiative launched by the 91��ý in April 2022 to empower readers everywhere to stand together in the fight against censorship. With more than two hundred partner organizations and tens of thousands of individual supporters, the campaign connects, equips, and mobilizes the public to advocate in their communities for the right to read and to defeat attempts at every level of government to censor reading material. Learn more and join the campaign at uniteagainstbookbans.org/take-action/.

JCARMICHAEL Wed, 06/26/2024 - 10:07

Annual Conference

Intellectual Freedom

Contact:

Betsy Gomez

Assistant Director of Communications and Public Outreach

91��ý

Office for Intellectual Freedom

bgomez@ala.org

Acclaimed poet, essayist, and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib to headline second annual Rally for the Right to Read

JCELINDRO — Fri, 31 May 2024 17:42:47 +0000

Acclaimed poet, essayist, and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib to headline second annual Rally for the Right to Read

CHICAGO — The 91��ý (91��ý) and Unite Against Book Bans will host a second annual Rally for the Right to Read: Voters Unite Against Book Bans at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront on Friday, June 28, 2024.

Part of the 2024 91��ý Annual Conference & Exhibition, June 27 – July 2, the program will gather librarians and Unite Against Book Bans partners from across sectors and across the country, from publishers to authors, from educators to parents, from library workers to library patrons. Organizations across multiple fields and sectors are joining to stand up for the right to read. The rally will highlight anti-censorship activities from around the nation and celebrate the 2024 recipients of 91��ý’s signature intellectual freedom awards.

Nationally renowned writer, cultural critic and MacArthur Genius Grant recipient Hanif Abdurraqib will deliver the keynote address.

The event will honor the courage and resilience of America's librarians and their commitment to protect the freedom to read during a period of unprecedented attacks. The Rally for the Right to Read will recognize the 2024 recipients of the Freedom to Read Foundation's Roll of Honor Award, the Eli M. Oboler Award, the John Phillip Immroth Award and the Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award.

“Library workers nationwide continue to provide access for their communities in the face of book bans and censorship,” said 91��ý President Emily Drabinski. “The Annual Rally for the Right to Read brings together library workers and advocates to reflect, recharge and refocus our energy on protecting the freedom to read. 91��ý and our anti-censorship partners across industries are incredibly appreciative of the talented Hanif Abdurraqib for joining us and using his voice to Unite Against Book Bans!”

Hanif Abdurraqib is an award-winning poet, essayist and cultural critic from Columbus, Ohio, and the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation Genius grant. His most recent book, There’s Always This Year, was an instant New York Times, USA Today and Indie Next bestseller. A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance was a National Book Award Finalist and the winner of the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction. His other acclaimed works include They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us and Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to A Tribe Called Quest.

The Rally for the Right to Read begins with a reception at 7:00 p.m. and the program at 8:00 p.m. All 91��ý Annual Conference attendees are invited to attend; conference badges are required. Admission is free, and donations to the Unite Against Book Bans campaign are encouraged.

Bringing together thousands of librarians and library staff, authors, publishers, educators and exhibitors, the 91��ý Annual Conference & Exhibition is the largest library event in the world.

JCELINDRO Fri, 05/31/2024 - 12:42

Advocacy

Intellectual Freedom

Awards (Professional Recognition)

Annual Conference

Contact:

Ian Ware

Communications Manager

91��ý

Public Policy & Advocacy

iware@alawash.org

Banned Books Week

JCARMICHAEL — Fri, 17 May 2024 18:27:43 +0000

Banned Books Week JCARMICHAEL Fri, 05/17/2024 - 13:27

Celebration

Sep 22 - 28, 2024

Banned Books Week

X Share

Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in libraries, bookstores, and schools. By focusing on efforts to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship. Typically (but not always) held during the last week of September, the annual event highlights the value of free and open access to information and brings together the entire book community — librarians, educators, authors, publishers, booksellers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas.

Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF)

Online, Featured Event

91��ý’s Office for Intellectual Freedom to benefit from new book of essays

JCARMICHAEL — Wed, 15 May 2024 22:12:22 +0000

91��ý’s Office for Intellectual Freedom to benefit from new book of essays

CHICAGO — A new book of essays, “Why Books Still Matter,” inspired by the late First Amendment champion Joyce Meskis, has been released this month, with proceeds going to the 91��ý’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF).

Meskis, who owned the celebrated independent bookstore Tattered Cover in Denver, was a fierce opponent of book banning, and 16 luminaries in book-related fields and the U.S. Senate have contributed to the book, which is edited by Karl Weber and published by Rivertowns Books.

“The topics of the essays in ‘Why Books Still Matter’ are some of the most important in our country right now, from freedom of speech and censorship to representation so people can see themselves reflected in books and to build empathy,” said 91��ý President Emily Drabinski. “We are deeply thankful that the proceeds of the book will be donated to 91��ý’s Office for Intellectual Freedom to champion libraries in this current landscape of increasing book challenges throughout the country.”

The 91��ý saw a record 4,240 unique book titles targeted for censorship in 2023, a 65 percent increase from 2022, when 2,571 titles were challenged. OIF tracked 1,247 demands to censor library books, materials and resources in 2023. For additional information about book challenges and how to fight them, visit the Unite Against Book Bans website.

Here are a few of the contributing essayists to the book:

U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper of Colorado lauds the mission that Meskis embraced: “The more books we can put in people’s hands, the better the world will be.”
Nick Higgins and Amy Mikel of the Brooklyn Public Library discuss an award-winning program to make banned books available to young people in communities across the country.
Civil liberties attorney Steve Zansberg describes a new way to think about the right to free expression and its role in a democratic society.

About the 91��ý

JCARMICHAEL Wed, 05/15/2024 - 17:12

Intellectual Freedom

Contact:

Jean Hodges

Director

91��ý

Communications, Marketing & Media Relations Office

jhodges@ala.org

91��ý announces state Intellectual Freedom Helpline program grants to support libraries addressing censorship attempts

JCARMICHAEL — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 23:56:44 +0000

91��ý announces state Intellectual Freedom Helpline program grants to support libraries addressing censorship attempts

CHICAGO — The 91��ý (91��ý) is pleased to announce the launch of its state Intellectual Freedom Helpline program. Over the next two years, ten pilot program sites will operate a confidential reporting system that will help connect those experiencing censorship attempts with professional support, in-state peers, and referral to 91��ý OIF as appropriate. The initiative will collect data for inclusion in 91��ý’s database of confidential reports documenting censorship attempts nationwide; develop resources and establish best practices to operate an IFH; and develop the expertise and confidence of both those providing and receiving support.

91��ý invites state or school library associations or agencies wishing to either establish an Intellectual Freedom Helpline in their state or expand upon the organization’s existing efforts to support librarians and educators addressing censorship in their institutions to apply.

Applications will be accepted between April 3, 2024, and July 14, 2024. Visit the grant guidelines for more information and to access the grant application.

Ten grants, each in the amount of $10,000, will be awarded by August 31, 2024. The Intellectual Freedom Helpline grants are made possible through the generous support of the Acton Family Giving and critical program support is provided by the Mellon Foundation.

Through the grant and a culminating program findings report, 91��ý is thrilled to announce this opportunity that will build a solid foundation and network to further support libraries that are fiercely working to preserve and protect First Amendment rights.

The Intellectual Freedom Helpline program is administered by 91��ý’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. For more information about 91��ý and its intellectual freedom efforts, visit http://www.ala.org/oif.

About the 91��ý
The 91��ý (91��ý) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the 91��ý has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org.

About Acton Family Giving
Acton Family Giving supports distinct initiatives and collective efforts. Its Empathy Building Initiative, launched in 2014, partners with organizations building connections across difference and reaffirming our common humanity. This work is rooted in the belief that an empathetic society fosters stronger, healthier, and more just communities. Acton Family Giving is part of the Wildcard Giving philanthropic family.

About The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is the nation’s largest supporter of the arts and humanities. Since 1969, the Foundation has been guided by its core belief that the humanities and arts are essential to human understanding. The Foundation believes that the arts and humanities are where we express our complex humanity, and that everyone deserves the beauty, transcendence, and freedom that can be found there. Through our grants, we seek to build just communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive.

JCARMICHAEL Mon, 04/22/2024 - 18:56

Intellectual Freedom

Contact:

Eric Stroshane

Assistant Director of Member Services

91��ý

Office for Intellectual Freedom

estroshane@ala.org