Intellectual Freedom

by Quan Phuong Lib 202 Fall 2012

What is Intellectual Freedom?

The First Amendment to the Constitution: Grants the right to free speech and free pressfree expression of ideas. Lays the foundation to the modern concept of Intellectual Freedom. According to the ALA, intellectual freedom is the

right of every individual to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction. It provides for free access to all expressions of ideas through which any and all sides of a question, cause, or movement may be explored.

Why is Intellectual Freedom Important?

The principles of intellectual freedomfree and open access to ideasare hallmarks of a democratic government. The suppression of ideas is fatal to a democracy.
In order for citizens to be capable of selfgovernment, they need to be well-informed and be able to access and spread information freely.

What is Censorship?
Censorship is the suppression of ideas and information that certain individuals or groups find to be objectionable on moral, political, military, or other grounds.
Censors pressure libraries to remove from public access library materials they judge as inappropriate. Censors prejudge materials for everyone else and do not allow others to read and judge the material themselves.

Intellectual Freedom and Librarianship

Intellectual freedom is one of the core values of librarianship and

guides the collection development and management of a library. To support intellectual freedom, it is important for librarians to:
Be ethically responsible professionals committed to promoting

intellectual freedom. Acknowledge and overcome their own biases and fears. Be resistant to all censorship of library resources. Be promoters of uninhibited access to a diverse collection of materials. Apply the principles of the Library Bill of Rights into everyday library activities.

A Brief History of Intellectual Freedom

Intellectual freedom was not always a part of the U.S.

library tradition and developed out of opposition to book censorship. Until the 1930s, many librarians believed that censorship was one of their professional duties. An attempted censorship of John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath helped change the ALAs position on intellectual freedom, and eventually led to the ALAs adoption of the Library Bill of Rights.

Library Bill of Rights

Facts about the Library Bill of Rights:
It was originally written by a public librarian from Iowa

in 1938 and adopted by the ALA Council in 1939. It took almost ten years for the Library Bill of Rights to be officially approved. It is a cherished doctrine that guides the work of all library professionals. It expresses the intellectual freedom rights of library users and the expectations placed on librarians to support those rights.

Excerpts from the Library Bill of Rights (ALA).

Article I: Materials should not be excluded because

of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation. Article II: Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues Article III: Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.

ContinuedExcerpts from the Library Bill of Rights (ALA).

Article IV: Libraries should cooperate with all

persons and groups concerned with resisting...free access to ideas. Article V: A persons right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views. Article VI: Libraries that make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public should make such facilities available on an equitable basis

7 Ways to Teach Students About Intellectual Freedom (Adams, 2009)

Teach students information and technology literacy skillsenabling them to be well informed, critical thinking citizens. 2. Encourage students to participate in selecting and recommending new materialsto view, listen to, and read materials with diverse perspectives. 3. Display intellectual freedom documents prominently in the library media centerexplain their connection to the library
1.

Continued7 Ways to Teach

4. Celebrate Banned Books Week in September. Attract

students attention by creating displays of books that have been challengedpresenting book talks on banned books, and encouraging teachers to incorporate the theme of banned books and censorship into their lessons. 5. Create a book discussion group, and encourage students to read books that have been banned or those in which intellectual freedom is a central theme, such as Fahrenheit 451 or The Giver. Knowing a book is controversial may intrigue students and motivate them to read it

Continued7 Ways to Teach

6. Turn ordinary library situations into teaching opportunities about privacy. For example, if a student is looking for a book not on the shelf and asks who has checked it out, library staff can explain that information about who has borrowed the itemis confidential, referencing the library programs privacy policy and their states library record law. 7. Use National Library Week to spotlight libraries as places where students have the freedom to read what they choose. Sponsor a library card sign-up campaign to encourage students to use their public library.

Works Cited
Adams, Helen R. "Citizens in Training: Twelve Ways to Teach

Students about Intellectual Freedom." School Library Media Activities Monthly 25.8 (2009): 55-. ProQuest Research Library. Web. 25 Oct. 2012. Adams, Helen R. "The Library Bill of Rights and Intellectual Freedom." School Library Media Activities Monthly 24.5 (2008): 32-. ProQuest Research Library. Web. 25 Oct. 2012. American Library Association. Intellectual Freedom. Web. 25 Oct. 2012. <http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom>. Gregory, Vicki L. Collection Development and Management for 21st Century Library Collections: An Introduction. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2011. Office for Intellectual Freedom. Intellectual Freedom Manual. 8th ed. Chicago: American Library Association, 2010. Web. 25 Oct. 2012. <http://www.ifmanual.org>.