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Posted By Jonathan M. Kelley,
Monday, January 7, 2013
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Calling all defenders of the freedom to read! Are you - or is someone you know - a great candidate for the Freedom to Read Foundation's Board of Trustees? If so, consider nominating yourself or him/her for the 2013 Board of Trustee election. We have extended the deadline for submitting nominations to this coming Friday, January 11. Send your nominations to ftrf@ala.org. Trustees must be current members of the Freedom to Read Foundation, and are expected to attend two meetings per year, in conjunction with the American Library Association Annual Conference and Midwinter Meeting. Trustees are responsible for setting policy and for giving guidance to the Foundation regarding creating and implementing strategic plans; engaging in litigation and educational efforts; and promoting the Freedom to Read Foundation, its objectives, and encouraging membership therein. Questions? Contact Jonathan Kelley at (312) 280-4226 or jokelley@ala.org.
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Board of Trustees
election
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Posted By Jonathan M. Kelley,
Thursday, December 20, 2012
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_kenneth.jpg "Jamaica Kincaid") Will you be in Seattle next month for the ALA Midwinter Meeting or any other reason? Join us at our annual FTRF Author Event & Fundraiser, this year featuring the award-winning author Jamaica Kincaid. It should be a wonderful evening, so bring your friends!
Tickets are available now - $20 for the general public, $15 for Freedom to Read Foundation members, and $10 for students and reduced income. Questions? Contact Jonathan Kelley.
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banned books
Jamaica Kincaid
Midwinter Meeting
Seattle
special events
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Posted By Jonathan M. Kelley,
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
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Are you looking for the perfect holiday gift for your loved one, colleague, or book group? Consider a donation to the Freedom to Read Foundation! There are two great ways to give: • A gift one-year membership, good through the end of 2013. The recipient will receive a membership card, a subscription to Freedom to Read Foundation News, and breaking news updates. They’ll also know that they are a key part in the effort to defend and protect our most important rights. • A gift donation to the Freedom to Read Foundation. The donation could be to one of FTRF's named funds—the Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund, the Gordon M. Conable Fund, or the Zappa Fund—or a general gift to the Foundation. A gift membership or donation to the Freedom to Read Foundation will help support FTRF’s programs, educational efforts, and litigation efforts. Your gift will help libraries and librarians defend the right to access information. And since FTRF is a 501(c)(3) organization, your gift is tax deductible! Make this a memorable holiday season. Give online today or call us at (312) 280-4226.
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Conable Fund
gifts
Krug Fund
membership
Zappa Fund
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Posted By Jonathan M. Kelley,
Friday, November 30, 2012
Updated: Thursday, November 29, 2012
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 On November 13, a mother in Davis County, Utah, filed suit in federal court against the local school district after the removal of Patricia Polacco's book In Our Mothers' House from school library shelves.
The Freedom to Read Foundation will be following the progress of this case closely. The ACLU of Utah is representing the mother, Tina Webber, on behalf of two of her children and a class of similarly situated students in the Davis County School District. In Our Mothers’ House is a well-reviewed children’s book depicting a child’s experience growing up in a household headed by same-sex parents. The lawsuit challenges the school board’s decision to remove
all copies of the book from the district’s open library shelves in order to place the book behind a counter
where students must have written parental permission to access and read the
book. The complaint challenges the
removal on the ground that "the District’s primary justification for removing the book from
the shelves is that, by telling the story of children raised by same-sex
parents, the book constitutes 'advocacy of homosexuality' in purported
violation of Utah’s sex-education laws." In doing so, the complaint alleges the District violated the students' First and Fourteenth Amendment rights and is a form of unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination that stigmatizes both
the ideas in the book and the students reading the book. You can read the complaint here. The Salt Lake Tribune has much more about the case.
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Posted By Jonathan M. Kelley,
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
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 On November 20, 1969, a group of librarians, trustees, attorneys, and other supporters of the First Amendment filed the articles of incorporation for the Freedom to Read Foundation. 43 years later, their vision -- to ensure that libraries are able to provide access to the full range of legally available material -- is stronger than ever. Thanks to FTRF's work in the intervening decades, the case law that helps protect librarians and libraries in their educational efforts has grown significantly. And FTRF's members have made an impact at the highest legal levels, including in many cases that reached the U.S. Supreme Court. To help FTRF celebrate this day, take some time to peruse FTRF's history. Read some of the citations of the Roll of Honor Award recipients. And learn more about some of the developing issues the Freedom to Read Foundation Board has identified that may inform our upcoming litigation and education efforts. A hearty THANK YOU to all of FTRF's thousands of members throug![]() hout the years, including several who have been members since 1969! Libraries, library goers, and the First Amendment are stronger because of you.
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FTRF history
website
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