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Judith Krug Fund Education Project

FTRF has joined Longwood University and Emporia State University on Intellectual Freedom courses.

 

Freedom to Read Foundation Celebrates Educational Collaboration
with Longwood University

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) and Longwood University announced today that they will collaborate on offering an intellectual freedom course for school librarians during the Fall, 2024 term. It is the first time the Freedom to Read Foundation and an accredited LIS program have collaborated on an intellectual freedom course specifically for school library media specialists.

Carl A. Harvey II, an Associate Professor of School Librarianship at Longwood University, will teach the course, Intellectual Freedom and the School Library. “Intellectual Freedom is a core value of the profession, and I’m excited with this course that we will spend the semester looking at it through the perspective of school librarians,”said Harvey.

Intellectual Freedom and the School Library will examine intellectual freedom using the core values of librarianship with a focus on the school library.The course will be an online course with four synchronous sessions via Zoom on 8/27, 9/24, 10/29, and 11/19 from 7pm-9pm EST. In addition to being available for Longwood students, this and future sessions of the course will be open to library and information science (LIS) graduate students from other LIS programs. LIS students with an interest in taking the course can email graduate@longwood.edu for directions on registering, or those with questions about the course can inquire with Carl Harvey at harveyca@longwood.edu .

“School library media specialists are addressing an increasing number of challenges. Courses on intellectual freedom that draw on professional values, the unique environment of the school library, and the law this will equip them with tools to educate and advocate for students, families, and colleagues in their district,” said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, Executive Director of the Freedom to Read Foundation. “We deeply appreciate that the LIS educators at Longwood understand the need for intellectual freedom education for LIS students and are committed to addressing that need by adding this course to their curriculum.”

Prior to his role at Longwood, Carl Harvey spent 17 years as an elementary school librarian in Indiana. He is a Past-President of the Association for Indiana Media Educators, Indiana Library Federation, and the American Association of School Librarians. Currently he serves as President-Elect of the Virginia Association of School Librarians. He has published seven professional books for school librarians and authored countless articles. He also served as editor ofSchool Library Connectionfrom 2015-2023.

The Freedom to Read Foundation also collaborates on courses at the University of Illinois iSchool (UIUC) the San Jose State University School of Information (SJSU) and Emporia State University in addition to its collaboration with Longwood University. For more information on intellectual freedom courses for LIS students and professionals offered by UIUC, SJSU, and Emporia State, please email ftrf@ftrf.org.

The Freedom to Read Foundation is a non-profit organization established to promote and defend First Amendment rights, foster libraries as institutions that fulfill the promise of the First Amendment, support the right of libraries to include in their collections and make available to the public any work they may legally acquire, and establish legal precedent for the freedom to read of all citizens. For over 50 years FTRF staff, volunteers, members, and supporters have achieved this work through First Amendment education, litigation, and advocacy. For information on other FTRF news and initiatives, visit FTRF.org

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Freedom to Read Foundation Celebrates Educational Collaboration with
Emporia State University School of Library & Information Science

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is excited to announce a new educational collaboration with the Emporia State University School of Library & Information Management (SLIM) in Emporia, Kansas.

When Professor Mirah Dow met FTRF Executive Director Deborah Caldwell-Stone at a conference last year, they discussed the importance of including intellectual freedom as an essential element of LIS (Library and Information Science) education. "Acquiring an understanding of the fundamentals of intellectual freedom and the laws and legal precedents that govern the practice of librarianship and information science is a necessity for all information professionals who want to preserve and defend library users’ access to information and their freedom to read,” said Caldwell-Stone.

Dow, a Professor of Library and Information Management and Director of the PhD Program in the School of Library and Information Management at SLIM, approached the Freedom to Read Foundation following that conversation, suggesting that Emporia State and FTRF collaborate on a course on intellectual freedom and libraries for graduate students. The first offering of this collaboration is Intellectual Freedom in Libraries, course number LI861XK. Thecourse examines intellectual freedom as a core value of librarianship and a foundational principle for library professionals. Students will learn how to articulate, promote, and defend intellectual freedom practices and policies as a key component of professional practice in multiple types of libraries and information services. The course is open to LIS graduate students throughout the country, not just those enrolled at Emporia.

Students interested in taking the course can learn about the enrollment process from Kathie Buckman (kbuckman@emporia.edu) at Emporia.

Mirah Dow holds a Bachelor of Science in Education, a Master of Library Science, and a PhD in Library and Information Management from Emporia State University. With research interests focused on cognition, information behavior, teaching and learning, foundations of library and information science, reference and user services, information literacy, neurodiversity in education and employment, social presence in online learning, and on high impact library instruction in all library types. Dow has always included intellectual freedom in her work and looks forward to leading a class focused on the topic.

The Freedom to Read Foundation also collaborates on courses at the University of Illinois iSchool (U of I) and the San Jose State University School of Information (SJSU). For more information on courses offered U of I and SJSU, please write Joyce McIntosh (jmcintosh@ala.org). The Freedom to Read Foundation is a non-profit organization established to promote and defend First Amendment rights, foster libraries as institutions that fulfill the promise of the First Amendment, support the right of libraries to include in their collections and make available to the public any work they may legally acquire, and establish legal precedent for the freedom to read of all citizens.

For over 50 years FTRF staff, volunteers, members, and supporters have achieved this work through First Amendment education, litigation, and advocacy. For information on other FTRF news and initiatives, visit FTRF.org

 
 

Past Presentation:

FTRF Virtual Symposium "Where Intellectual Freedom and Social Justice Meet: A Call to Action"

Freedom to Read Foundation to Host a Free, Virtual Symposium “Where Intellectual Freedom and Social Justice Meet: A Call to Action,” July 12 and 13, 2022

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) invites all library workers, educators, authors, journalists, publishers, social justice workers and First Amendment advocates to attend and participate in its free virtual symposium, Where Intellectual Freedom and Social Justice Meet: A Call to Action to be held on on July 12 and 13, 2022.  The symposium will take place from 12:00 Noon to 4:00 PM Eastern / 11:00 AM-3:00 PM Central on both days.

Sofia Leung, a librarian, facilitator, and educator will provide the opening keynote presentation on day one.  Leung is a first-generation Chinese American focused on building community among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in libraries and beyond. She is a founding editor at up//root: a we here publication and the co-editor with Jorge López-McKnight of Knowledge Justice: Disrupting Library and Information Studies Through Critical Race Theory. You can find more of her work here: https://www.sofiayleung.com/

The agenda for day one will focus on exploring the core values  of Intellectual Freedom and Social Justice and how to find the balance between them. Panelists will address essential topics such as library policies, intellectual freedom and community values, alternatives to neutrality, and challenges facing the library community. Participants will have opportunities to ask questions of the panelists and engage in both small-group and large-group discussions.

Day two will focus on empowering participants to take action. Panelists will draw on their knowledge and experience to offer strategies for community change, building consensus, developing strong policies, and building coalitions and public outreach.  Participants will be invited to participate in breakout groups to plan specific strategies to shift narratives and communicate the ways in which social justice and intellectual freedom support one another.


A special edition of the Journal of Intellectual Freedom & Privacy,  Social Justice and Intellectual Freedom: Working within a Divided Nation will collect papers addressing the intersection of intellectual freedom and social justice,  the challenges arising from their interaction, and ways to forge a deeper understanding of how they support and enhance one another. The call for papers is now open and provides deadlines for submitting papers and commentary. 

 

The Freedom to Read Foundation is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit legal and educational organization affiliated with the American Library Association that is dedicated to protecting and defending each person’s First Amendment right to read and the right of library workers to serve the information needs of their community. Since 1969 FTRF trustees, staff, and members have worked to protect First Amendment rights through education, litigation, and advocacy.


Registration for the event is full, but FTRF trustees and staff hope to have this topic as part of an ongoing conversation and opportunities for education.


The Freedom to Read Foundation adheres to the following ALA commitment: 


ALA is committed to an open, inclusive, and collaborative environment. ALA members do not tolerate harassment in any form. We are colleagues and we treat each other with respect. The goal of this Code of Conduct is to establish a culture of professional, courteous, respectful, and inclusive communication among all participants at the symposium.



FTRF Academic Partnerships

We currently partner with two universities and collaborate on three courses. Each course combines FTRF’s resources and speakers with the expertise that the professors bring to their field. The Freedom to Read Foundation is excited to help future librarians understand issues of intellectual freedom, privacy, and censorship, and learn ways to navigate instances of these issues as LIS professionals. 

 

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign iSchool 

iSchool at Illinois Professor Emily Knox offers a Fall 2-credit synchronous online course, Intellectual Freedom and Censorship. Her course approaches intellectual freedom as an ethical issue based in interpretations of the First Amendment of the United States and the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. Knox was awarded a 2015 Instructor of the Year award by the WISE (Web-based Information Science Education) consortium for the course.  It meets from August through October. Students interested in the course can contact Karla Lucht, klucht@illinois.edu or visit http://ischool.illinois.edu.

 

San Jose State University School of Information (SJSU iSchool)

This Spring (January through May) Professor Beth Wrenn-Estes will lead a 3-credit, asynchronous course focusing on YA Librarianship and Intellectual Freedom. Before Wrenn-Estes started teaching for SJSU full-time she was a youth services librarian. She is passionate about libraries and especially serving youth. Wrenn-Estes received the iSchool Outstanding Teacher Award in 2012 and The Most Distinguished (Faculty) Service award in 2014.

Next Fall Professor Carrie Gardner will lead a 3-credit, asynchronous Intellectual Freedom Seminar through the SJSU iSchool between August and December. Gardner has taught an IF course since 2002 and her course explores topics ranging from the legal foundation of the First Amendment to IF history, policies, ethics, and privacy, and the ways these topics intersect in our libraries.

Students interested in these courses can contact SJSU iSchool online at ischool.sjsu.edu or by calling (408) 924-2490 for more information. 

Additional efforts

If you are an LIS educator interested in assisting with FTRF's ongoing intellectual freedom education efforts, please contact us at ftrf@ftrf.org.

 

Intellectual Freedom Education

The Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund funds online education efforts focused on intellectual freedom for library and information studies (LIS) students and library professionals. 

Judith was a fierce proponent of education, and among her many other accomplishments she taught classes and lectured frequently at LIS programs on intellectual freedom.

FTRF webinars on trending intellectual freedom issues

FTRF hosts frequent webinars for LIS students, library professionals and the literary community, in partnership with the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. These webinars touch on a range of trending intellectual freedom issues, including First Amendment rights for minors, censorship challenges and Net Neutrality Future webinars are promoted in the FTRF member newsletter. 

Archived webinars and information on upcoming webinars can be found HERE.