Intellectual Freedom Manual, Ninth Edition

Trina Magi Martin Garnar Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF)

$70.00

ALA Member:

$ 63.00

Item Number:

978-0-8389-1292-8

Published:

2015

Publisher:

ALA Editions

Pages:

296

Width:

8 ¹⁄₂"

Height:

11"

Format:

Softcover

AP Categories:

A, C, E, G, I

Samples

1.33 MB • pdf • Download

Description
Table of Contents
About the Authors
Reviews

Since it was established in 1967, ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) has championed the rights of library users to seek and receive information on all subjects from all points of view without restriction and without having the subject of one's interest examined or scrutinized by others. The new edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual is more than just an invaluable compendium of guiding principles and policies. It's also an indispensable resource for day-to-day guidance on maintaining free and equal access to information for all people. Fortifying and emboldening professionals and students from across the library spectrum, this manual includes

34 ALA policy statements and documents, 17 new or updated for this edition, addressing patron behavior, internet use, copyright, exhibits, use of meeting spaces, and other common concerns
At-a-glance lists summarizing key issues such as access, challenges and censorship, access by minors to controversial materials, and advocacy
Explanations of legal points in clear, easy-to-understand language, alongside case citations
Numerous checklists to help readers stay organized
A glossary and selected bibliography

This must-have tool will help librarians ensure that institutions of all kinds remain beacons of intellectual freedom.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

CONTRIBUTORS

INTRODUCTION AND USERS GUIDE

PART 1: INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AND LIBRARIES

1. What Is Intellectual Freedom?

Barbara M. Jones

2. Core Intellectual Freedom Documents of the American Library Association

Libraries: An American Value

Library Bill of Rights

The Freedom to Read

Code of Ethics of the American Library Association

Questions and Answers on Enforcement of the Code of Ethics of the American Library Association

3. Creating Intellectual Freedom Policies for Your Library

Guidelines for the Development and Implementation of Policies, Regulations, and Procedures Affecting Access to Library Materials, Services, and Facilities.

Creating Policy for Your Library

Collection Development and Resource Reconsideration

Internet Use

Use of Meeting Rooms and Exhibit Spaces

Privacy and Confidentiality

User Behavior and Library Use

4. The Right to Receive Information: Libraries, the First Amendment, and the Public Forum Doctrine

Theresa Chmara

PART 2: INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM ISSUES AND BEST PRACTICES

1. Access to Library Resources and Services

Issue at a Glance

Official ALA Policy Statements

· "Access to Digital Information, Services, and Networks—An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights"

· "Access to Library Resources and Services Regardless of Sex, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, or Sexual Orientation—An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights"

· "Economic Barriers to Information Access—An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights"

· "Intellectual Freedom Principles for Academic Libraries—An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights"

· "Prisoners Right to Read—An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights"

· "Restricted Access to Library Materials—An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights"

· "Services to Persons with Disabilities—An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights"

· "The Universal Right to Free Expression—An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights"

A Deeper Look

The Law Regarding Access to the Library: User-Behavior Rules

Theresa Chmara

2. Censorship, Challenged Resources, and Internet Filtering

Issue at a Glance

Official ALA Policy Statements

· "Challenged Resources—An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights"

· "Expurgation of Library Resources—An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights"

A Deeper Look

How to Respond to Challenges and Concerns about Library Resources

Kristin Pekoll and Helen R. Adams

Sample Form: Request for Reconsideration of Library Resources

Engaging with Organized Groups

Barbara M. Jones and Deborah Caldwell-Stone

The Law Regarding Access to Library Resources: Removal of Materials

Theresa Chmara

Internet Filtering and Intellectual Freedom

Part 1: Do I Have to Use an Internet Filter in My Library?

Deborah Caldwell-Stone

Part 2: Do Filters Really Work?

Sarah Houghton

Part 3: How Does Filtering Affect Intellectual Freedom?

Sarah Houghton

Part 4: What Are School Libraries Doing?

Helen R. Adams

3. Children and Youth

Issue at a Glance

Official ALA Policy Statements

· "Access for Children and Young Adults to Nonprint Materials—An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights"

· "Access to Library Resources and Services for Minors—An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights"

· "Access to Resources and Services in the School Library—An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights"

· "Minors and Internet Activity—An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights"

A Deeper Look

Intellectual Freedom and Young People

Pat Scales

The Law Regarding Minors' First Amendment Rights to Access Information

Theresa Chmara

4. Collection Development and Management

Issue at a Glance

Official ALA Policy Statements

· "Diversity in Collection Development—An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights"

· Evaluating Library Collections—An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights"

· "Labeling and Rating Systems—An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights"

A Deeper Look

The Law Regarding Rating Systems

Deborah Caldwell-Stone

5. Copyright

Issue at a Glance

Official ALA Policy Statements

· "Copyright—An Interpretation of the Code of Ethics"

A Deeper Look

The Law Regarding Copyright

Carrie Russell

6. Meeting Rooms, Exhibit Spaces, and Programs

Issue at a Glance

Official ALA Policy Statements

· "Advocating for Intellectual Freedom—An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights"

· "Exhibit Spaces and Bulletin Boards—An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights"

· "Library-Initiated Programs as a Resource—An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights"

· "Meeting Rooms—An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights"

A Deeper Look

The Law Regarding Access to Meeting Rooms and Exhibit Spaces

Theresa Chmara

7. Privacy and Confidentiality

Issue at a Glance

Official ALA Policy Statements

· "Privacy—An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights"

· "Resolution on the Retention of Library Usage Records"

· "RFID in Libraries—Privacy and Confidentiality Guidelines"

A Deeper Look

The Law Regarding Privacy and Confidentiality in Libraries

Deborah Caldwell-Stone

8. Visits and Requests from Law Enforcement

Issue at a Glance

Official ALA Policy Statements

· "Policy on Governmental Intimidation"

A Deeper Look

How to Respond to Law Enforcement Requests for Library Records and User Information: Suggested Guidelines

The Law Regarding Law Enforcement Requests for Library Records

Deborah Caldwell-Stone

9. Workplace Speech

Issue at a Glance

Official ALA Policy Statements

· "Resolution on Workplace Speech"

· "Questions and Answers on Speech in the Workplace: An Explanatory Statement of the ALA Code of Ethics"

PART 3: ADVOCACY AND ASSISTANCE

1. Communicating about Intellectual Freedom

Identifying the Audience

Creating the Message

Delivering the Message

Choosing and Preparing Spokespeople

Working with the Media

Dealing with Controversy and Negative Publicity

Lobbying, Robert Doyle

2. Where to Get Help and Get Involved

Challenge Support and Information

Educational and Public-Awareness Programs

Online Resources and Publications

American Library Association Policy-Making and Networking

State and Federal Legislation—Information and Advocacy

Legal Defense of Intellectual Freedom and Humanitarian Aid for Librarians

Building Intellectual Freedom Coalitions

Intellectual Freedom Awards

Nanette Perez and Trina Magi

APPENDIX 1: GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Candace Morgan

APPENDIX 2: SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Loretta Gaffney

APPENDIX 3: CORE INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM DOCUMENTS AND RELATED STATEMENTS

INDEX

Trina Magi

Trina Magi is a library professor and reference and instruction librarian at the University of Vermont. She has chaired state and regional intellectual freedom committees, served on the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee, and published a number of articles on privacy. She has won several awards for her intellectual freedom advocacy.

Martin Garnar

Martin Garnar is the reference services librarian and professor of library science at Regis University in Denver, CO. He also teaches professional ethics, library instruction, and foundations of library and information science for the University of Denver's library and information science program. He has served as chair of the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee and the Committee on Professional Ethics.

Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF)

ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) is charged with implementing the intellectual freedom policies of the American Library Association through educating librarians and the public about the concept of intellectual freedom as embodied in the Library Bill of Rights, the Association's basic policy on free access to libraries and library materials. In order to meet its educational goals, the Office undertakes information, support, and coordination activities.

"The text is very well written and provides a wealth of information about each topic, including specific situational examples and explanations of the law surrounding the different topics. The information is organized well and includes great details to make navigation as simple as possible. It is very helpful to have all of this information collected and organized in one simple resource. Proponents of intellectual freedom would benefit from having a copy of this manual on hand."
— ARBA

"Some barriers to reading are imposed by community members, parents, and laws, and librarians ought to be familiar with readers' rights and the library's responsibility to its readers. So, keep this manual handy! … Foremost, the editors and authors have packed into fewer than 300 pages a useful toolkit for librarians' work to provide services and to understand terminology, fundamental documents and the information professionals' responsibility to unwaveringly stand up to protect intellectual freedoms of the citizenry."
— Reference Reviews

”It is best to be prepared, and all U.S. librarians should have a basic understanding of the principles outlined in this book."
— Journal of Hospital Librarianship

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