2024 Was a Great Year!

We recognized those who helped us protect First Amendment Rights, provided scholarships to upcoming intellectual freedom fighters, and awarded grants to groups recognizing the freedom to read during Banned Books Week.
    

FTRF 2024 Roll of Honor Recipients                   

    
Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) awarded the 2024 Roll of Honor to (L to R) Ryan W. Goellner, Kevin Shook, Thomas F. Allen Jr., and Ben A. West (not pictured), attorneys with the law firm Frost Brown Todd LLP, for their pro bono contributions to FTRF’s litigation efforts defending library users’ First Amendment rights and the freedom to read.   

Allen, Goellner, Shook, and West collaborated with FTRF’s General Counsel and staff in writing substantive amicus curiae briefs in Little v. Llano County and Book People, Inc. v. Wong, two important cases pending before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. They were each recognized for their contribution to the many hours of dedicated work they put into writing and researching these briefs and their commitment to supporting the freedom to read and First Amendment rights. The Freedom to Read Foundation also recognized Frost Brown Todd LLP for supporting the work of the four attorneys.

 

Citation for Girl Scout Kate Lindley

Freedom to Read Foundation Board of Trustees awarded a special citation to Girl Scout Kate Lindley of Hanover County, Virginia in recognition of her Girl Scout Gold Award Project, “Free to Read,” as well as in recognition of her steadfast advocacy on behalf of the freedom to read even as local elected officials censored any mention of her project at a ceremony intended to honor Gold Award winners in her community.  (Sukrit Goswami, past President of FTRF with Kate Lindley)

 

2024 Conable Conference Scholarship Recipients

Freedom to Read Foundation Conable Conference Committee members named two scholarship recipients, who received full scholarships to attend the American Library Association’s (ALA) Annual Conference in San Diego, California.  Etana Laing and Tif Sutherland were chosen from the largest class of applicants in the history of the scholarship.

Etana Laing is an MLIS student at the University of Maryland-College Park and a library associate at Bowie State University. She also has a book club for Black women and people with lived experience of misogynoir called Revolutionary Reads.

Tif Sutherland is Reference Supervisor at Calvert Library in Maryland and President of the Maryland Library Association, leads a team of seven librarians focused on instruction, access, and equity for a community of 100,000.

 

Krug Fund Banned Books Week Grants

The Judith F. Krug Fund provides grants to schools, libraries, and non-profit organizations across the country to support their local Banned Books Week celebrations that raise awareness of intellectual freedom and censorship issues during Banned Books Week. In 2024 the Judith F. Krug Fund awarded five grants to three public libraries, one academic library, and one Friends and Foundation organization. The 2024 recipients were:

    Lewes Public Library (DE)
    Frankfort Public Library (IN)
    Loutit District Library (MI)
    Hostos Community College
    Friends and Foundation of Albany Public Library (NY)

 

Each of the people we celebrated in 2024 will have an impact on the freedom to read going forward.

Next month immediately following the FTRF Board of Trustees meeting in San Francisco, please join the trustees, your fellow members, and the winners of the 2015 Conable Conference Scholarships at the annual FTRF Membership Reception.

Date: Thursday, June 25, 2015​

Location: Moscone Convention Center, 747 Howard St., San Francisco
Outside room 131 N

Time: 4:30-6:30 p.m.

This year's Conable scholars are Amy Steinbauer and Gretchen LeCheminant. Amy (@merbrarian) is a librarian in California while Gretchen (@gretchenalice) is a student at the University of Texas School of Information.

In addition to shmoozing, we'll have appetizers and you'll get a chance to learn more about FTRF's activities.

You can RSVP for the reception on Facebook or just show up! Bring your friends who aren't yet members, and we'll be happy to do the recruiting for you.

A hearty congratulations to John "Mack" Freeman on his selection as the 7th recipient of FTRF's Gordon M. Conable Conference Scholarship. We invite all FTRF members (and prospective members!) to meet John at the FTRF Member Reception on Thursday, June 26, following the FTRF Board of Trustees Meeting.

Mack is a librarian at Tifton-Tift County Public Library in Tifton, Georgia. He is active in the GLBTRT and GGRT. This will be his first ALA Conference.

You can follow Mack on Twitter at @johnmackfreeman (and, of course, follow FTRF at @ftrf).