For her courageous stand in defense of intellectual freedom
By refusing to remove Don DeLillo’s AMERICANA from the shelves of the Davis County Utah Public Library, Jeanne Layton put herself at the center of a political controversy in which she stood practically alone, with only her colleagues in support. Her request for assistance to the Freedom to Read Foundation gave the Foundation the opportunity to fulfill its purposes in defending First Amendment values. For her stand, Jeanne Layton lost her professional position, but persevered to seek and win reinstatement. Her staunch defense of intellectual freedom against tremendous odds added meaning to the First Amendment, strengthened and expanded the Foundation, and solidified its reputation as the preeminent defender of the freedom to read in libraries.
Robert S. Peck, President Judith F. Krug, Executive Director
Print Page
