Thursday, April 25, 2024

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF), the Iowa Library Association (ILA), and the American Association of School Librarians (AASL)  have joined in filing an amicus curiae brief in two cases currently pending before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. 

The two lawsuits, Penguin Random House, LLC v. Robbins and  GLBT Youth in Iowa Schools Task Force v. Reynolds, are asking the court to overturn provisions in Senate File 496 (SF 496), because the law violates the First Amendment by restricting access to certain viewpoints by requiring the removal of school library books on vague and uncertain grounds and prohibiting materials in schools regarding gender identity and sexual orientation. 

The amicus brief filed by FTRF, AASL, and ILA urges the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold a preliminary injunction barring enforcement of the law until the courts make a final decision on the merits of the plaintiffs’ claims.  Upholding the preliminary injunction assures that Iowa students’ First Amendment right to access information in their school libraries that reflect their lives and interests is protected.   As the brief notes, “[t]he net effect of SF496 is to undermine school libraries and curtail librarians from curating diverse collections for their particular school communities, contrary to the history, purpose, and function of school libraries.”

“School libraries are cornerstones of inquiry and literacy, and every learner deserves access to a robust library collection that is curated by a knowledgeable, certified school librarian to fit their specific developmental and learning needs and interests,” said AASL President Courtney Pentland. “Removing access in school libraries to books that feature the lived experiences of specific groups of Iowans because they do not fit certain belief systems is not only unconstitutional but sets a dangerous precedent. It says that the stories of particular people either don't matter or are somehow inappropriate.”

“As the Supreme Court has repeatedly recognized, students’ rights do not end when they enter the schoolyard gate.  States must comply with longstanding constitutional safeguards when they provide for students’ education, including students’ rights to access a diversity of views and topics in the school library without discrimination," said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, Executive Director of the Freedom to Read Foundation. "FTRF is proud to stand with the students and school librarians of Iowa to protect students’ right to read, inquire and gain new understanding of the world and themselves, free from unconstitutional discrimination, while also defending the right of publishers, booksellers and authors to make these stories available free from unconstitutional government censorship.” 

About the American Association of School Librarians

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) has supported school librarians and the school library community in the United States, Canada, and around the world since 1951.  AASL leaders understand the current realities and evolving dynamics of the professional environment and are positioned to help members achieve universal recognition of school librarians as indispensable educational leaders.

About the Freedom to Read Foundation

Founded in 1969, the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is a non-profit legal and educational organization affiliated with the American Library Association.  FTRF protects and defends the First Amendment to the Constitution and supports the right of libraries to collect—and individuals to access—information. Staff and trustees do this work with a focus on First Amendment education, litigation, and advocacy. 

About the Iowa Library Association

The Iowa Library Association (“ILA”) fosters a community of library-related innovation and advocacy in Iowa, supporting and strengthening its members to promote libraries as an essential resource for all Iowans.  ILA endeavors to defend challenges to intellectual freedom and the freedom to read, while also advocating for critical funding, access to information, local control, and the importance of teacher-librarians in every school. 

Read the brief here.

Read the statement of the Iowa Library Association here.

Applications Open for Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund Programming Grants

Each year the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) distributes grants to organizations to support activities that raise awareness of intellectual freedom and censorship issues during the annual Banned Books Weeks celebration (September 22-28, 2024).  Staff at all types of libraries, schools, universities, and non-profit community organizations are encouraged to apply. Grants are awarded for $1,000 and applications are accepted now through April 30, 2024.  

Grants are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• IMAGINATION: What makes your plan unique? How have you integrated the concept of Freed Between the Lines? 
• SCHEDULE/ACTION PLAN: Include key dates, responsibilities, and collaboration with other groups to carry out a creative project.
• PR PLAN: What are the ways you will promote your event and who is your intended audience?  Do you have a media and social media plan?  How will your promotion be creative, unique and eye-catching?
• BUDGET: Please detail your proposed budget. Institutions, and other groups they are working with, should partially contribute to the funding of proposed events rather than solely relying on the grant. Do not designate all of these grant funds for the purchase of books, or as an honorarium for one speaker.
• EVALUATION: Detail how you will evaluate the success of your program.

To be eligible for a grant, organizations must not have been a recipient of an FTRF grant within the past five years. FTRF Founder Judith F. Krug was a fierce proponent of education and intellectual freedom.  During Krug’s lengthy career she worked non-stop to prevent censorship and protect First Amendment rights. 

Apply here or visit the Freedom to Read Foundation online to apply and learn more about past recipients and their projects through the Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund.  Contact Joyce McIntosh at jmcintosh@ala.org or Karen Gianni at kgianni@ala.org with questions.

Apply now with this application.

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) offers an annual scholarship for library school students and new professionals to attend ALA's Annual Conference. The goal of the Gordon M. Conable Conference Scholarship is to advance two principles that Gordon held dear: intellectual freedom and mentoring.

The Conable Scholarship provides for conference registration, transportation, housing (six nights), and a $300 stipend for meals and other expenses.

The recipient will also receive a one-year membership to the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF). In return, the recipient will be expected to attend various Freedom to Read Foundation and other intellectual freedom meetings and programs at the conference, consult with a mentor, and present a report about their experiences and thoughts. Application deadline April 26, 2024.

The scholarship is available to students currently enrolled in an ALA-accredited library and information studies degree program or an AASL-recognized master’s programs in school librarianship and new professionals (those who are three or fewer years removed from receiving an LIS degree).

Note: If the recipient is already registered for ALA’s Annual Conference, they will have their conference fee refunded.

The conference scholarship winner will be expected to arrive on Wednesday and stay through Monday afternoon. 

The application requires a resume, two references, and an essay of up to 500 words describing your interest in intellectual freedom issues and how you will use your attendance at the ALA annual conference to further your interest in intellectual freedom during and after the conference.  Your resume should include your education, work history, and volunteer experience.

Submit an Application.

Freedom to Read Foundation Virtual President’s Program:

Continuing the Conversation: Intellectual Freedom and Social Justice

February 22, 2024

3:00pm Eastern, 2:00pm Central, 1:00pm Mountain, 12:00pm Pacific

90 Minutes

Please Register Here.

Freedom to Read Foundation and National Associations of Librarians of Color leaders will share how our organizations are responding to challenges to intellectual freedom and the right to access information. A significant number of the challenges in the past two years have been to works by or about persons of color. Through this conversation we will identify ways our organizations can support one another in fighting censorship. 

Through Education, Litigation, and Advocacy the Freedom to Read Foundation works to protect First Amendment rights.  A commitment to social justice is fundamental to the work of the Foundation. Learn more Here

Panelists include:

Sukrit Goswami, President of the Freedom to Read Foundation

Stacy Wells, Executive Assistant, American Indian Library Association (AILA)

Amy Breslin, Member at Large, Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA)

Nichelle Hayes, President of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA)

Ray Pun, Immediate Past President of the Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA)

Loida Garcia-Febo, International Relations Committee Chair, REFORMA – The National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking

You can read the letter here:

October 17, 2023

City Council

City of Huntington Beach

2000 Main Street

Huntington Beach, CA 92648

Re:      Resolution No. 2023-41

Dear City Council Members:

The First Amendment Coalition, the ACLU of Southern California, and the Freedom to Read Foundation strongly oppose Resolution No. 2023-41 (“Resolution”), which would impose an unconstitutional censorship regime on the people’s right to access library books and materials protected by the First Amendment. Since the founding of this nation, public libraries have been havens for free inquiry and expression. The government has no business interfering with the decisions of parents, families, and minors about what library books to read and how they may access them. We urge you to reject the Resolution in the strongest possible terms.

The Resolution’s sweep is breathtaking. It would prohibit any city library from allowing access to “any content of a sexual nature” for anyone under 18 years of age without consent of a parent or guardian, regardless of “whether the books or materials are intended for children or adults.” Resolution ¶ 1(a)–(b). Taken literally, it would cover “countless literary works,” Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition, 535 U.S. 234, 247 (2002), including the Bible, Romeo and Juliet, The Great Gatsby, 1984, Beloved, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and Introduction to Plant Reproduction, to name only a few examples of commonly read books.

The Resolution would also impair access to educational materials on gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and reproductive health. Indeed, speech discussing gender identity and expression or sexual orientation is often a prime target of measures such as the Resolution. While some minors can and do seek parental guidance or support on such matters, others are unable to do so safely. Free access to these educational materials helps ensure that LGBTQ youth feel safe and supported.

In addition, the Resolution would subject the future acquisition of any “children’s books and other materials” containing unspecified “sexual references” or “sexual content” to the arbitrary veto of a “review board” appointed by city council members and guided by nothing more than undefined “community standards of acceptance.” Resolution ¶ 2. The review board could also require libraries to restrict access to any “book or material currently in circulation” which “does not meet community standards.” Id. ¶ 2(d).

The Resolution would violate the fundamental right to freedom of speech. The First Amendment protects not only the right to speak but also “the public’s interest in receiving information.” Pac. Gas & Elec. Co. v. Pub. Utils. Comm’n, 475 U.S. 1, 8 (1986) (citations omitted); see also Board of Education v. Pico, 457 U.S. 853, 867–68 (1982) (noting that “the right to receive ideas is a necessary predicate to the recipient’s meaningful exercise of his own rights of speech, press, and political freedom” and explaining that “students too are beneficiaries of this principle”); Stanley v. Georgia, 394 U.S. 557, 568 (1969) (noting that the “right to read or observe” is “fundamental to our scheme of individual liberty”); Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479, 482 (1965) (stating “[t]he right of freedom of speech . . . includes not only the right to utter or to print, but the right to distribute, the right to receive, [and] the right to read”) (citation omitted).

This right is especially salient in a public library, “the ‘quintessential’ locus for the exercise of the right to receive information and ideas.” Kreimer v. Bureau of Police, 958 F.2d 1242, 1256 (3d Cir. 1992). The founders of this nation “understood the necessity of public libraries for a well-functioning democracy,” and “[f]or more than a century, librarians have curated the collections of public libraries to serve diverse viewpoints.” Fayetteville Pub. Libr. v. Crawford County, No. 5:23-CV-05086, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 131427, *10 (W.D. Ark. July 29, 2023). The decision as to what library materials minors may read or view and how they may do so belongs to their parents and them, not to the government.

The literature, art, music, films, and other materials covered by the Resolution are the essence of speech protected by the First Amendment. Hurley v. Irish-American Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Grp. of Boston, 515 U.S. 557, 569 (1995); Ward v. Rock Against Racism, 491 U.S. 781, 790 (1989); Schad v. Borough of Mount Ephraim, 452 U.S. 61, 65 (1981).

Speech is not unprotected merely because it contains some alleged “sexual content.” Ashcroft, 535 U.S. at 245; Reno v. ACLU, 521 U.S. 844, 875 (1997). Under the First Amendment, speech “cannot be suppressed solely to protect the young from ideas or images that a legislative body thinks unsuitable for them.” Erznoznik v. City of Jacksonville, 422 U.S. 205, 213–14 (1975).^[1]

As the Supreme Court has said, “one man’s vulgarity is another’s lyric,” and “because governmental officials cannot make principled distinctions in this area,” the Constitution leaves to individuals the right to decide what protected speech to view or read. Cohen v. California, 403 U.S. 15, 25 (1971); cf. Joseph Burstyn, Inc. v. Wilson, 343 U.S. 495, 505 (1952) (“It is not the business of government in our nation to suppress real or imagined attacks upon a particular religious doctrine, whether they appear in publications, speeches, or motion pictures.”).

Above all else, the First Amendment prohibits the government from discriminating based on viewpoint, and the grant of unbridled discretion to restrict access to speech inherently creates an unacceptable risk of viewpoint discrimination. Rosenberger v. Rector & Visitors of the Univ. of Va., 515 U.S. 819, 828-29 (1995); Kaahumanu v. Hawaii, 682 F.3d 789, 807 (9th Cir. 2012).

The terms “content of a sexual nature” or “sexual references” are so inherently subjective as to be entirely arbitrary. The Resolution is devoid of “sufficiently definite and objective” standards “to prevent arbitrary or discriminatory enforcement” of “the policy as a pretext for censorship.” Amalgamated Transit Union Loc. 1015 v. Spokane Transit Auth., 929 F.3d 643, 654 (9th Cir. 2019). This risk is especially acute in the case of elected officials or their surrogates, who are “the object of political pressures” that often “run contrary to the protections that the first amendment affords political and other controversial forms of expression.” Cinevision Corp. v. City of Burbank, 745 F.2d 560, 575 (9th Cir. 1984). 

Therefore, if adopted, the Resolution would violate the First Amendment by licensing censors to exercise unbridled discretion to curtail access to protected speech based on vague standards amounting to little more than the arbitrary whims of a minority. While no one can be forced to read a library book to which they object, no one has the right to subject, through force of government, the entire community to their narrow and arbitrary view of what books are acceptable for minors of any age to read.

Unsurprisingly, courts have rejected similar misguided attempts to restrict access to library books. See, e.g., Fayetteville Pub. Libr., 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 131427 at *46–48 (enjoining enforcement of law prohibiting the furnishing of books or materials allegedly “harmful to minors” that included “a broad category of protected speech” such as “any material with any amount of sexual content” of any kind, which “would likely impose an unnecessary and unjustified burden on any older minor’s ability to access free library books appropriate to his or her age and reading level”); Sund v. City of Wichita Falls, 121 F. Supp. 2d 530, 549 (N.D. Tex. 2000) (holding that a resolution conferring on residents “the power to remove from the children’s section any books they find objectionable” was unconstitutional because it “effectively permitt[ed] them to veto lawful, fully-protected expression simply because of their adverse reaction to it”); cf. Cline v. Fox, 319 F. Supp. 2d 685, 692 (N.D. W. Va. 2004) (holding that even in prison, First Amendment does not allow a policy that “prohibits all books, magazines, paintings, and photographs that contain even one depiction of sexual intercourse,” such as “literary classics like George Orwell’s 1984 and religious texts like the Bible,” regardless of “the context of the depiction or the content of the work as a whole”).

The City Council would far better serve the people of Huntington Beach by respecting their right to freedom of expression and turning its attention to critical public services instead of stoking division by adopting an arbitrary and unconstitutional censorship regime. For all these reasons, we object to the Resolution and strongly urge the City Council to reject it.

Sincerely,

s/David Loy
Legal Director

First Amendment Coalition

s/Jonathan Markovitz

Free Expression and Access to Government Staff Attorney

ACLU Foundation of Southern California

s/Deborah Caldwell-Stone

Executive Director

Freedom to Read Foundation

^[1] The Resolution goes far beyond materials deemed legally obscene as to adults or minors, or child sexual abuse material produced with actual minors, all of which may be restricted without violating the First Amendment and creation or distribution of which is already prohibited by California law, making it unavailable in libraries. Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15 (1973); Ginsberg v. New York, 390 U.S. 629 (1968); New York v. Ferber, 458 U.S. 747 (1982); Cal. Penal Code §§ 311-313.5.

Webinar:  September 26, 2023, 2 p.m. Central

This webinar is a co-sponsored by the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) and FTRF members are invited to attend for free.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights recently stated that selective book bans may violate federal civil rights laws in certain circumstances. In this webinar, presenters from the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) will introduce participants to the office and the laws OCR enforces. The webinar will also explain how book bans may violate students’ civil rights and how OCR can help.  

OCR enforces several federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in schools, colleges and universities, and libraries that receive U.S. Department of Education funds. These federal laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), disability, and age. Individuals who experience or observe a potential violation of these laws can file a complaint with OCR.

The webinar is free and available to members of the American Library Association (ALA) or Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF). If you are not a member, please join ALA and the Freedom to Read Foundation.

Please note that this event will be presented live only—the recording will not be available. Attendance will be limited to 1,000 attendees.

Presenters:

Monique L. Dixon, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education

Monique L. Dixon is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy in the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. She previously served as Deputy Director of Policy and Director of State Advocacy at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF), Inc. In these roles, she was responsible for assisting with the development, coordination, and implementation of LDF’s overall federal policy and legislative reform priorities with a focus on criminal justice and education. She also serves as the lead architect of LDF’s state and local legislative and policy activities, including LDF’s Justice in Public Safety Project.  Dixon also served as co-chair of the Education Task Force of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.  She is a graduate of the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and Hunter College of the City University of New York.  

Randolph Wills, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement, Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education

Randolph Wills is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement in the Office for Civil Rights.  He is responsible for overseeing the enforcement activities of OCR’s 12 regional offices.  He provides leadership and legal guidance in the enforcement of civil rights in education programs, including in the investigation and resolution of complaints of discrimination, proactive compliance reviews, and other high-profile cases of systemic discrimination, and in the provision of technical assistance, outreach and policy guidance to educational institutions, parents, students, and community organizations.  During his 20-year tenure in OCR, he also served as an Enforcement Director and as the Regional Director of OCR’s New York regional office. Prior to joining OCR, he was the General Counsel and Deputy Commissioner for the New York City Commission on Human Rights.

Learning Outcomes:

Attendees will learn about:

• How the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights enforces federal civil rights laws.
• How federal civil rights laws apply to libraries.
• How book bans may violate federal civil rights laws.
• How to submit complaints about potential violations to the Office for Civil Rights.

Co-sponsors:

This webinar is co-sponsored by the American Library Association’s Public Policy and Advocacy office (PPA), ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF), and the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF).

Event Information:

This event will be hosted in Zoom. Automatic captions will be enabled for this event.

FTRF members may use this direct Zoom Link to register for the event: https://ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_C62SnWufSbO9_bJGZ5rzzA. 

ALA members may use this direct Zoom link to register for the event: https://idpv3.ala.org/idp/profile/SAML2/Redirect/SSO?execution=e1s2

Contact ce@ala.org with registration questions.

Freedom to Read Foundation Announces Two
Conable Conference Scholarship Recipients

Chicago, IL
June 17, 2023

This year the Freedom to Read Foundation will send two scholarship recipients to the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) annual meeting and the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference through the Gordon M. Conable Conference Scholarship. The purpose of the annual scholarship for library school students and new professionals is to advance two principles that Conable held dear: intellectual freedom and mentoring.

After receiving more applications than usual, staff and committee members made the decision to award two scholarships. The 2023 recipients are Paloma Barraza and Pamela Verfaillie. 

Paloma Barraza (she/her/hers) is completing her master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the  University of Arizona iSchool with a focus in academic libraries. She works as a Library Technician at the University of Northern Colorado Libraries as the course reserve specialist and works for High Plains Library District as a bilingual Substitute Librarian. Paloma also has a master’s degree in Art History from the University of New Mexico, where she specialized in colonial and pre-contact art of the Americas. After she graduates she hopes to become a specialized librarian in an academic setting. This is her first time attending the conference, and she hopes to meet academic librarians and others who are working with Latin American collections as well as accessibility for patrons. 

Pamela Verfaillie is the library associate at Valdez High School in Valdez, Alaska. She is past-president of the Alaska Association of School Librarians, and is currently studying to earn her MLIS at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. She has an undergraduate degree in political science from Bates College (ME) and a certificate in Information and Library Science from the University of Maine at Augusta. Her interest in intellectual freedom stems from watching friends and colleagues facing coordinated efforts to remove books from school libraries and seeing school districts set aside existing policies when confronted by these tactics. Mrs. Verfaillie believes that librarians and other educators need to work together to effectively support each other, educate school and city administrations regarding appropriate policies and procedures, prevent censorship, and ensure that the views of one individual or group does not restrict other patrons' freedom to read.

The annual scholarship provides for conference registration, transportation, housing (six nights), and a stipend for meals and other expenses and is available to students currently enrolled in an ALA-accredited library and information studies degree program or an AASL-recognized master’s programs in school librarianship and new professionals (those who are three or fewer years removed from receiving an LIS degree). To learn more about the scholarship, visit Conable Conference Scholarship - Freedom to Read Foundation (ftrf.org). 

The Freedom to Read Foundation is a non-profit legal and educational organization dedicated to protecting and defending each person’s First Amendment right to read. Since 1969 FTRF trustees, staff, and members have worked to protect First Amendment rights through education, litigation, and advocacy. Visit Freedom to Read Foundation (ftrf.org) or contact ftrf@ala.org to learn more.

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) today filed an amicus curiae brief with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Leila Green Little, et al. v. Llano County, et al., a lawsuit filed by several citizens of Llano County, Texas, to challenge the Llano County government’s decision to remove a large number of books from the Llano County Library shelves because certain library users, county residents, and county officials complained that the books' contents were objectionable. The plaintiffs argue that the removal of books from the library’s collection based upon a dislike or disapproval for the ideas or topics addressed in the book violates the plaintiffs’ First Amendment right to access those books in the library.  

On March 30, 2023, the federal district court issued a preliminary injunction, ordering Llano County officials to return the censored books to the library shelves and to make them available through the library’s catalog.  Llano County officials have appealed that decision, arguing that they are entitled to remove any books they wish based on their disapproval of the books’ viewpoints and content.

FTRF’s brief explains that librarians are guided by well-established ethical canons and standards that favor no party, subject, or viewpoint when curating a public library collection, and that assuring access to a broad range of information and ideas is in the highest tradition of public libraries and librarians. The brief further argues that as a matter of professional ethics and the law, no public library may target certain books for removal or restriction because they may be unpopular, controversial, or outside the mainstream.

FTRF President Peter Coyl said, "The Freedom to Read Foundation fully supports the Llano County Library patrons fighting for the right to read in their community. Ultimately, it is the voice of concerned citizens that will preserve First Amendment freedoms whenever and wherever they are under threat."

Joining FTRF on the brief are the American Library Association (ALA) and the Texas Library Association (TLA). 

ALA President Lessa Kanani'opua Pelayo-Lozada said, “Librarians take seriously the legal and ethical commitment to manage library collections without partiality to a single viewpoint or idea. ALA stands with the court in upholding the core values of libraries, which mirror – and are historically protected by – the First Amendment.”

TLA Board President Gretchen Pruett said, “The Texas Library Association stands with library advocates across the state to support and defend intellectual freedom, which is a core tenant of our democracy. Librarians are professionally trained to develop collections that meet the broad and varied needs of their communities. Attempts to circumvent processes and remove books is a violation of the First Amendment and the right of all citizens to form their own opinions.”

About the American Library Association

The American Library Association (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. 

About the Freedom to Read Foundation

Founded in 1969, the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is a non-profit legal and educational organization affiliated with the American Library Association.  FTRF protects and defends the First Amendment to the Constitution and supports the right of libraries to collect—and individuals to access—information.

About the Texas Library Association

The Texas Library Association is the largest state library association in the country, representing over 5,000 librarians with a mission to unite and amplify the voices of the library community through advocacy, education and intentional equity, diversity and inclusion.

Suit Challenges Arkansas Act 372, a Bill That Would Restrict Access to Books in State Book Stores
and Public Libraries

A broad coalition of authors, publishers, booksellers, librarians, and readers today filed suit in The United States District Court, Western District of Arkansas, Fayetteville Division, challenging Arkansas Act 372, a law that would restrict access to books in bookstores and libraries located within the state, and in the process violate the First Amendment rights of the state’s reading public. The bill was signed by the Governor of Arkansas on March 30 and is slated to go into effect on August 1, 2023.

Carol Coffey, President of the Arkansas Library Association; Nate Coulter, Executive Director of the Central Arkansas Library System; Alison Hill, the CEO of the American Booksellers Association; Maria Pallante, President and CEO of the Association of American Publishers; Mary Rasenberger, CEO of the Authors Guild; Deborah Caldwell- Stone, the Executive Director of the Freedom to Read Foundation; Pearl’s Books; Kandi West, Lia Lent and Lynne Phillips, owners of WordsWorth Books; and Adam Webb released the following statement on the suit:

“Together, we have filed this lawsuit to protect the first amendment rights of Arkansas’ reading community. Arkansas Act 372 robs the state’s readers of their constitutional right to receive information and threatens the state’s booksellers and librarians with extreme punishments for performing their core – and essential – function of making books available to the public. This law will ultimately force bookstores and librarians to restrict their offerings to works that are suitable for minors, or bar them from entering institutions that have long served as the nexus between community and learning.

“We oppose any and all efforts to undermine the First Amendment, which is foundational to our democracy and critical to the lawful exchange of art, literature, and information. Books have long shaped our understanding of the world around us and provided readers with the chance to explore topics that span a vast spectrum of ideas and experiences. The booksellers and librarians of Arkansas are stewards of that proud tradition, and their essential mission of serving the state’s readers must be preserved.”

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is a non-profit legal and educational organization affiliated with the American Library Association. FTRF protects and defends the First Amendment to the Constitution and supports the right of libraries to collect—and individuals to access—information.

“The Freedom to Read Foundation stands with our co-plaintiffs in challenging Arkansas Act 372, which threatens to criminalize the work of librarians and booksellers, and empty Arkansas’ library shelves," said FTRF Executive Director Deborah Caldwell-Stone. "The legislation shows egregious disregard for the work of trusted library professionals and the First Amendment rights of the people of Arkansas. FTRF will always be on the front lines of the fight to preserve the freedom to read, both in Arkansas and throughout the nation."

What the Bill Would Do

The lawsuit will challenge two provisions of Act 372 that violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments. One component of the new law makes it a crime for libraries, booksellers, and any brick-and-mortar establishment that makes it a crime to display or make available works that might be harmful to minors. This will require libraries and booksellers to limit all readers to books appropriate for minors or exclude all minor readers from their premises.The second provision makes it possible for any person in Arkansas to demand the removal of a book the person deems inappropriate, limiting readers to one person’s opinion about what books should be in the library.

Plaintiffs

The plaintiffs in the suit include the American Booksellers Association, Author’s Guild, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Freedom to Read Foundation, and two local bookstores--WordsWorth Books in Little Rock and Pearl’s Books in Fayetteville, and the Association of American Publishers, as well as a consortium of local libraries, librarians, and library advocates, which includes Fayetteville Public Library, Eureka Springs Carnegie Public Library, Central Arkansas Library System (CALS), Arkansas Library Association, Advocates for All Arkansas Libraries, Nate Coulter (Executive Director of CALS); Adam Webb, a librarian from Garland County; Olivia Farrell, an adult CALS patron; and Hayden Kirby, a 17-year-old CALS patron.

Counsel

Counsel for the various plaintiffs include John T. Adams of Fuqua Campbell, P.A.; Michael Bamberger of Dentons; Bettina Brownstein of the ACLU of Arkanas; and Benjamin Seel and Will Bardwell of Democracy Forward.

Read the Brief Here

Pride Month displays and programming, as well as materials with LGBTQ+ characters and themes, have been a primary target for censorship. Library workers have faced harassment, LGBTQ+ events have been canceled due to safety concerns, and many resources have been defaced, damaged, or destroyed by the individuals or groups targeting them.   From public and school libraries to academic and special libraries, no part of the library ecosystem has been spared in the campaign against LGBTQ+ content. In this conversation, panelists will share their expertise and provide attendees with best practices and practical strategies to advocate for and support LGBTQ+ content and programming during Pride Month and beyond. 

The webinar is free and available to American Library Association (ALA) and Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) members.  

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Eastern

4:30 - 5:30  p.m. Central

2:30-3:30  p.m. Pacific

1:30-2:30  p.m. Alaska

Freedom to Read Foundation Members Access the Webinar here:
https://ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_eYUD0U1sRh6oULFoNKqS6g

ALA Members Register here:
https://elearning.ala.org/local/catalog/view/product.php?productid=944

Panelists:
Pat Tully has been the Director of the Ketchikan Public Library in Ketchikan, Alaska since 2017. Since receiving her MILS at the University of Michigan in 1988, Pat has worked in public and academic libraries, first in technical services and starting in 2004 in library administration. She has shared her experience of challenges with attendees at the Alaska Library Association conference.

Deborah Caldwell-Stone is Director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom and Executive Director of the Freedom to Read Foundation. For over twenty years she has worked closely with library professionals and library trustees on a wide range of intellectual freedom issues related to library service in the United States. She has served on the faculty of the ALA-sponsored Lawyers for Libraries and Law for Librarians workshops and is a contributor to the 10th edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual. She has contributed articles on law, policy, and intellectual freedom to American Libraries and other publications.

Betsy Gomez is Assistant Director of Communications & Outreach for ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, coordinator for Unite Against Book Bans and the Banned Books Week Coalition, and former coalition and editorial director for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, an advocacy organization dedicated to the First Amendment rights of the comics community. Gomez edited and designed the award-winning publication CBLDF Presents: She Changed Comics, which profiles more than 60 groundbreaking women who expanded the expressive possibilities of the comics medium. With more than a decade of professional experience defending intellectual freedom, Gomez also has an extensive background in educational publishing as a content developer and editor. 

Outcomes:
Attendees will learn best practices for supporting Pride Month exhibits and programming.
Attendees will learn advocacy tools and methods to gain community involvement and support.
Attendees will learn ways to address challenges to LGBTQ+ content in their library collections.

This Freedom to Read Foundation webinar is co-sponsored by the American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom (ALA OIF), the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), the Public Library Association (PLA) and the ALA Rainbow Round Table (RRT). If you would like to join the Freedom to Read Foundation visit https://www.ftrf.org/page/Membership and to join ALA visit https://ec.ala.org/membership/join. 

Contact ce@ala.org with registration questions and jmcintosh@ala.org or kgianni@ala.org with non-registration questions.

Freedom to Read Foundation Celebrates 2023 Roll of Honor Recipient Pat Scales

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) will honor the work and achievements of librarian and free speech advocate Pat Scales by awarding her its  2023 Roll of Honor Award during the American Library Association’s Annual Conference in Chicago in June.  

“Pat’s lifetime of dedication to upholding the principles of intellectual freedom, her years as a collaborator and volunteer with the Foundation, and the numerous ways she has ensured that children, and their parents, can find ways to read together, made her a unanimous and clear choice for this year’s Roll of Honor award,” said Committee Chair and FTRF Vice President Sophia Sotilleo.

Pat’s work as an advocate for the freedom to read began when FTRF founder Judith Krug saw Pat and Judy Blume on the Today Show.  Blume had joined Scales to promote Scales’ program,“Communicate through Literature,” which brought together parents from the middle school where Scales was a librarian. The parents met once a month, without their children, to read books that students had chosen for the parents to read.  The books covered everything from bullying, belonging, and the need to achieve, to sex, and sexuality.  The program was so popular she had to create two groups.

Following Scales’ and Blume’s presentation on the Today Show, Krug wrote a note to Pat recruiting her for the Foundation’s corps of volunteers and trustees, saying that Pat’s work was a good fit with the Freedom to Read Foundation’s mission.  Since then, Pat has been an FTRF trustee, an active volunteer on committees, and as a strong voice in defense of authors’ right to write and publish without censorship, and the right of children, students,  and parents to freely read without censorship. 

Through “Communicate with Literature” and similar initiatives that followed, Pat has worked with everyone from pediatricians to clergy members.  “You can’t only preach to the choir,” said Pat. “You have to accept opportunities, go in, and tell our side of the story.” And throughout Scales’ career, she has done exactly that. 

 Scales’ work as a school librarian and intellectual freedom advocate has had a long-term, visible impact, such as the Scales on Censorship column published by School Library Journal, as well as a growing number of books tackling intellectual freedom issues in schools and libraries.  A new edition of “Teaching Banned Books” will be released this fall and will be available to  inform educators, librarians, and parents for years to come about fighting censorship and the importance of having diverse books available for student readers. “The only thing that matters to me is that it’s out there, so people who need it can use it,” said Scales. 

Scales has made advocacy for the freedom to read a full-time endeavor since her retirement  from teaching 16 years ago.  She has also created a legacy for future educators and librarians by donating  the  Pat Scales Special Collections, a research resource, to  the University of Montevallo in Montevallo, Alabama, one of the few public liberal arts schools in the country. The Collection began with 4,000 books in 2016 and now includes over 10,000 children’s and young adult literature titles. Pat still joins the archivist there in teaching a banned books course on a regular basis.

Pat will be honored the evening of  Thursday, June 22, 6 p.m. at  A Rally for the Right to Read: Uniting for Libraries & Intellectual Freedom and at the Opening General Session of the 2023 ALA Annual Conference on Friday, June 23, at 4 p.m.

The Freedom to Read Foundation is a non-profit legal and educational organization dedicated to protecting and defending each person’s First Amendment right to read. Since 1969 FTRF trustees, staff, and members have worked to protect First Amendment rights through education, litigation, and advocacy. Visit Freedom to Read Foundation (ftrf.org) or contact ftrf@ala.org to learn more.

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) offers an annual scholarship for library school students and new professionals to attend ALA's Annual Conference. The goal of the Gordon M. Conable Conference Scholarship is to advance two principles that Gordon held dear: intellectual freedom and mentoring.

The Conable Scholarship provides for conference registration, transportation, housing (six nights), and a $300 stipend for meals and other expenses.

The recipient will also receive a one-year membership in the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF). In return, recipient will be expected to attend various FTRF and other intellectual freedom meetings and programs at conference, consult with a mentor/board member, and present a report about their experiences and thoughts. Application deadline May 5, 2023.

The scholarship is available to students currently enrolled in an ALA-accredited library and information studies degree program or an AASL-recognized master’s programs in school librarianship and new professionals (those who are three or fewer years removed from receiving an LIS degree).

Note: If the recipient is already registered for ALA’s Annual Conference, they will have their conference fee refunded.

The conference scholarship winner will be expected to arrive on Wednesday and stay through Monday afternoon. 

The application requires a resume, two references, and an essay of up to 500 words describing your interest in intellectual freedom issues and how you will use your attendance at an ALA conference to further your interest in intellectual freedom during and after the conference.  Your resume should include your education, work history, and volunteer experience.

Submit an Application.

 

April 5, 2023

Applications Open for Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund Banned Books Week Programming Grants

Each year the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) distributes grants for organizations to support activities that raise awareness of intellectual freedom and censorship issues during the annual Banned Books Weeks celebration (October 1-7, 2023). The 2023 theme is "Let Freedom Read." Staff at all types of libraries, schools, universities, and non-profit community organizations are encouraged to apply. Grants are awarded for $1,000 and applications are accepted now through May 19, 2023.  

Grants are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• IMAGINATION: What makes your plan unique? How have you integrated the concept of LET FREEDOM READ?  Do not designate all of the grant funds for the purchase of books, or as an honorarium for one speaker; local collaborators might support those aspects.
• SCHEDULE/ACTION PLAN: Include key dates, responsibilities, and collaboration with other groups to carry out a creative project.
• PR PLAN: What are the ways you will promote your event and who is your intended audience?  Do you have a media and social media plan?  How will your promotion be creative, unique and eye-catching?
• BUDGET: Please detail your proposed budget. Institutions, and other groups they are working with, should partially contribute to the funding of proposed events rather than solely relying on the grant. Do not designate all of these grant funds for the purchase of books, or as an honorarium for one speaker.
• EVALUATION: Detail how you will evaluate the success of your program.

To be eligible for a grant, organizations must not have been a recipient of an FTRF grant within the past five years. FTRF Founder Judith F. Krug was a fierce proponent of education and intellectual freedom.  During Krug’s lengthy career she worked non-stop to prevent censorship and protect First Amendment rights. 

Apply here or visit the Freedom to Read Foundation online to apply and learn more about past recipients and their projects through the Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund.  Contact Joyce McIntosh at jmcintosh@ala.org with questions.

February 23, 2023
Chicago, IL

The Freedom to Read Foundation Awarded the Los Angeles Times Book Festival’s Innovator’s Award 

The Los Angeles Times has announced the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) will receive its LA Times Book Festival 2022 Innovator’s Award, which “spotlights efforts to bring books, publishing and storytelling into the future.” 

“The organization is as important and relevant today as it was at its inception in 1969,” says Julia Turner, Deputy Managing Editor of Entertainment and Strategy for the Times. “We honor its continued fight against book bans and its mission to protect all Americans’ right to read and access information.”

“We are grateful to the Los Angeles Times for recognizing the Freedom to Read Foundation's efforts to ensure everyone’s right to read freely as guaranteed in the First Amendment,” responds FTRF President Peter Coyl. “With unprecedented attacks on librarians and increasingly brazen efforts to take books away from schools and children, the mission of the Foundation is more important now than ever. We hope this award will serve as a clarion call for others to join in the fight to preserve one of our most precious freedoms.”

“In awarding the Innovator’s Award to the Freedom to Read Foundation, the Los Angeles Times honors the Foundation’s 50 plus years of advocacy, education, and litigation on behalf of the freedom to read, as well as the vision of its founding director, Judith Krug, who fiercely believed in the right of the reader to read and the role of the library in supporting our democracy and individual liberties,” says FTRF Executive Director Deborah Caldwell-Stone. “We thank the Los Angeles Times and look to a future where we can secure every person’s right to read what they want, without the government telling them what to read.” 

You can read the full article and list of Los Angeles Times 2022 Book Award recipients here: www.latimes.com/about/pressreleases/story/2023-02-22/los-angeles-times-book-prizes-to-honor-james-ellroy-and-freedom-to-read-foundation

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is a non-profit legal and educational organization dedicated to protecting and defending each person’s First Amendment right to read and the right of libraries to collect -- and individuals to access -- information. Affiliated with the American Library Association, staff, trustees, members, and ALA liaisons to the Foundation achieve its mission through First Amendment education, litigation, and advocacy. Visit www.ftrf.org to learn more.

The Freedom to Read Foundation, in partnership with ALA eLearning, is offering three very timely and relevant webinars. Join us and learn skills for dealing with today's most challenging issues facing libraries across the country.

FTRF Members receive a code to attend the webinars for free! Check your email inbox or call the office at 312-280-4223 ext. 4223 if you did not receive a registration code.  If you are not a member, visit here to join.

• Navigating Book Challenges in Rural America - Wednesday, January 4, 2023: https://elearning.ala.org/local/catalog/view/product.php?productid=695

• Reproductive Health and Libraries: Navigating the New Information Landscape - Wednesday, January 11, 2023 : https://elearning.ala.org/local/catalog/view/product.php?productid=696

• Dealing with Challenges, Misinformation, and Disinformation About Resources for Children and Young Adults - Wednesday, January 18, 2023: https://elearning.ala.org/local/catalog/view/product.php?productid=697

• Defending Intellectual Freedom: Facing Challenges and Fighting Back (the bundle): https://elearning.ala.org/local/catalog/view/product.php?productid=698

We hope you can join us.  If you have questions, or issues with registration, contact ALA eLearning at ce@ala.org or at 312-280-5100 or call FTRF staff at 312-280-4223 ext. 4223 or email ftrf@ala.org.

The fund was established in 1970 as a special trust in memory of Dr. LeRoy C. Merritt. It is devoted to the support, maintenance, medical care, and welfare of librarians who, in the Trustees’ opinion, are:

• Denied employment rights or discriminated against on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, race, color, creed, religion, age, disability, or place of national origin; or
• Denied employment rights because of defense of intellectual freedom; that is, threatened with loss of employment or discharged because of their stand for the cause of intellectual freedom, including promotion of freedom of the press, freedom of speech, the freedom of librarians to select items for their collections from all the world’s written and recorded information, and defense of privacy rights.

Learn more about the fund, how it has assisted librarians in the past, and how you can support the fund, or apply for assistance, by visiting www.merrittfund.org.

Chicago, IL
August 16, 2022

Freedom to Read Foundation Announces Grant Recipients for Projects Reflecting the theme: Books Unite Us: Censorship Divides Us

The Freedom to Read Foundation has awarded six organizations $1000 each to support activities that raise awareness of intellectual freedom and censorship issues during the annual Banned Books Week celebration (September 18 - 24, 2022). The organizations were asked to design initiatives that showed imagination and creativity around the theme, “Books Unite Us: Censorship Divides Us.”

The 2022 recipients include:

Athens-Clarke County Library – Athens, GA
Staff at Athens-Clarke County Library will take inspiration from their permanent exhibit “Imagination Squared: Pathways to Resilience” to stand up to the challenges that are getting closer and closer to all communities. The exhibit features nearly 2,000 5”x 5” block squares that were decorated by community members on the theme “What Resilience Means to You.” The squares span an entire wall and make a significant impact on library visitors. Participants in their Banned Books Week program will decorate a 5” x 5” canvas board using the theme “Books Unite Us.” The event will be aimed at all ages with one program for teens and one for the community. Each event will begin with an overview of Banned Book Week, the importance of intellectual freedom, and the harm that comes from book banning. An art instructor at the University of Georgia who is also the founder of Imagination Squared, will speak about resilience and how art helps build connections. 

Friends of the Chesapeake Public Library – Chesapeake, VA
Chesapeake Public Library (CPL) wants to fight back against the division that comes with attempts at censorship. To raise awareness, staff are making banned books the focus of their third annual Black Ink festival, an all-day festival that celebrates local authors of color. During this year's festival, they will offer writing workshops, poetry slams, panel discussions on the importance of diversity in the publishing industry, a tent giving away free copies of banned books and a keynote speech from Chesapeake's own Kwame Alexander. Kwame has had several books banned, including New York Times best-seller "The Undefeated". During his speech, he will speak to all the ways that books unite us. Black Ink is for all-ages. With the ongoing book challenges in their local school district, this year's festival will target local middle and high school students— especially those who are underserved. The program will highlight their growing partnership with administrators and teachers at Chesapeake Public Schools.

Kean University, Common Read Program -  Sayre, PA
Kean University’s Common Read Program will include students, faculty, and administrators from General Education, Psychology, English, Speech Language Pathology, ESL, Communications, and others as they join to read one common book. The Common Read Program champions the idea that a single book can join a diverse community together, expanding critical thinking habits for the institution at large. After a multi-step selection process, the 2022 common read book chosen is one the ALA’s top-ten most challenged books of 2021: LGBTQ+ activist George M. Johnson’s memoir-manifesto All Boys Aren’t Blue. Kean University will welcome Johnson to campus on October 11, 2022, National Coming Out Day. As Johnson is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the Common Read program is working alongside Greek life to engage fraternities and sororities as part of the welcoming ceremony. After a meet & greet and book signing, Johnson will engage in a short reading followed by a student-led Q&A. Afterwards, they will celebrate Johnson’s visit with a gallery reception at the University Human Rights Institute. 

Mary Lou Johnson Hardin County Library - Kenton, OH
Staff of Mary Lou Johnson Hardin County Library will host a program “Books Unite Us- Expanding Our Cultural Horizons” including a “world fair” of stations where patrons will learn about banned books in diverse cultures and societies. Each station will detail a culture/society and why they banned specific books. Attendees will receive a “passport” to have stamped as they complete their trip around the world. The program will include an in-person opportunity at the beginning of Banned Books Week, as well as a digital version for those who cannot attend. The online program will include daily updates from each culture/system and ask for online participation- rewarding participants with virtual items such as free printables, digital resources, and physical prizes/items that can be mailed. The heart behind this program is to encourage participants to broaden their knowledge of other cultures and belief systems. Staff hope that participants will be able to see banned books in a different perspective- and learn more about other cultures and systems. 

Medina County District Library  - Medina, OH
The Medina County District Library (MCDL) is collaborating with Medina County Juvenile Detention Center (JDC), Access the Arts, and all 6 District Library locations to provide programming to children and teens ages 10-18 from Medina County, Ohio focused on “Books Unite Us: Censorship Divides Us” through artistic mediums including painting, poetry, and music. Because staff felt the celebration of the Freedom to Read needs more than a single week, their timeline began in July 2022 and runs through March 2023. 

"Students from all over the county, including students from our juvenile detention center, united to contribute to our community mural which depicts their artistic interpretation of the concept of censorship while displaying a love of books and reading" said Suzie Muniak, Assistant Director of Medina County District Library.

Finished and recorded projects will reflect the uniqueness of the youth of Medina County, and the  collaborative effort made to create a work of art promoting their freedom to read.

Sidney Silverman Library at Bergen Community College - Paramus, NJ
Staff at the Sidney Silverman Library at Bergen Community College hope their program will demonstrate why talking about and learning from challenged or banned books creates empathy, unity and understanding by highlighting shared experiences. Using the Readers’ Theater reading fluency strategy, a selection of readings from banned books will be turned into scripts which will be read by students and faculty before a live audience in the Student Center and/or an Outdoor Classroom. Events will be supported by a series of posters which will be placed across the campus and will highlight the selected books explaining the reason for the challenge or ban as well as relevant quotes from scholars and writers. Volunteer students, faculty and staff will select various challenged children’s books and read aloud to students at the College’s Child Development Center and a display of banned or challenged books will be created in the Sidney Silverman Library. The celebration will culminate in a student trip to New York City to see a production of “The Kite Runner” on Broadway.

To learn more about past recipients and their projects and consider applying in the future, visit the Freedom to Read Foundation online at www.ftrf.org or Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund .  Contact Joyce McIntosh at jmcintosh@ala.org with questions.

For Immediate Release

Wed, July 20, 2022

Chicago, Illinois

Contact: Joyce McIntosh

Assistant Program Director

Freedom to Read Foundation

jmcintosh@ala.org

Freedom to Read Foundation Announces 2022 - 2023 Executive Committee

The trustees of the  Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF), a non-profit legal and educational organization affiliated with the American Library Association dedicated to protecting and defending each person’s First Amendment right to read, elected its officers and members of its Executive Committee for the 2022-2023 term at its Annual Meeting held on June 23, 2022. 

Peter Coyl, Director and CEO of the Sacramento Public Library in Sacramento, California is the newly-elected President of the Freedom to Read Foundation. He has previously served as Vice President of the Freedom to Read Foundation and currently serves as Councilor for the American Library Association’s (ALA) Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) and as a member of the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC). "I am honored to be selected as the President of the Freedom to Read Foundation. The First Amendment is the cornerstone of our democracy and now, more than ever, it is vital we protect, defend, and strengthen it," said Coyl. "I look forward to working with our colleagues in the library, publishing, bookselling, and academic arenas to ensure that our right to read remains strong and enduring.  We welcome those who share our vision to join us in this fight."

Sophia Sotilleo, Interim Library Director/Associate Professor at the Langston Hughes Memorial Library, Lincoln University, Pennsylvania has been elected Vice-President of FTRF. “Working as a librarian at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), serving first generation college students, I see daily the importance of having access to various types of books that not only educate, but also empower and encourage our next generation of leaders. The Freedom to Read Foundation continues to do an amazing job at defending and supporting access to information and I look forward to serving with the organization in this inspiring and important work,” said Sotilleo. Sotilleo was also elected as a 2022-2025 ALA Councilor-at-Large and is a 2022 Association of Research Libraries Leadership Fellow.

Cindy Hohl, Director of Branch Operations at Kansas City Public Library and immediate past president of the American Indian Library Association, will serve as FTRF’s Treasurer. Hohl said she is “committed to supporting library workers and champions equal access for everyone to defend their right to read.” Hohl is also the ALA representative to the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Indigenous Matters Section, Co-Chair of the ALA Spectrum Scholarship Program, and Co-Chair of the ALA Working Group on White Supremacy & Fascism as Antithetical to Library Work, and part of the LibLearnX Programs Committee.

Sukrit Goswami and Lesliediana Jones have been elected to serve as members of FTRF’s Executive Committee.  

Goswami is the Director at Haverford Township Free Library, Havertown, Pennsylvania. He is currently the Chair of ALA's Information Technology Policy Advisory Committee (ITP), and a member of ALA's Intellectual Freedom Committee. “One of the most powerful statements I have come across in my professional career is Freedom to Read Foundation's slogan, “Free People Read Freely.” I would like to continue to promote and advocate Freedom To Read Foundation’s commitments towards protecting, safeguarding and supporting libraries and librarians in their defense of first amendment rights as a member of the FTRF Executive Committee.“

Lesliediana Jones is the Associate Director of Public Services at Harvard Law School Library, Cambridge, Massachusetts and currently serves as Chair of the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee. “I believe in the words of Frederick Douglass, ‘Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.’ The freedom to read is a right that all persons should be able to use however they choose,” said Jones.

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF), a non-profit legal and educational organization affiliated with the American Library Association, is dedicated to protecting and defending each person’s First Amendment right to read. Since 1969 FTRF trustees, staff, and members have worked to protect First Amendment rights through education, litigation, and advocacy. 

For Eldon Ray James, the 2022 recipient of the Freedom to Read Foundation’s Roll of Honor award, an impromptu declaration of a career goal was a prompt that not only changed his life but also led to a life of service that achieved abundant changes that are preserving intellectual freedom and access to information for library users in many schools, libraries, and institutions across the United States.  

In 1996 Ray was sentenced to 70 months in a minimum security Federal correctional camp where there was an informal library and very little else available to those who were incarcerated there and who wanted to read to improve their lives. Ray asked the corrections officials if the camp could offer Ray and the other inmates college courses, and soon the camp began offering higher education courses through Howard College in Big Spring Texas. 

When asked during an online speech class what he would do when released, Ray stood up and said, “I’m going to become a librarian.” Though his classmates laughed, Ray persevered and was able to complete his bachelor's degree in English and begin coursework at the University of Texas’ School of Information Science with Loriene Roy, who served as President of the American Library Association.  Roy invited Ray to Washington D.C. for her inauguration and to meet with members of the Association of Specialized Government, and Cooperative Library Agencies’ forum for Library Services to the Incarcerated and Detained. Ray volunteered to chair the forum, beginning his years of service within ALA.

In 2009 Ray was invited to revise and update ALA’s “Prisoners Right to Read” document for adoption by the ALA Council, launching his work advocating for the intellectual freedom rights of persons involved in the justice system and those incarcerated behind prison walls. 

“Intellectual freedom is the absolute right to read, write, and think, unrestricted by government at any level,” said James. “An individual has the right to follow their own course through life without interference from institutions of government.” 

“I recognized early on that I could not go back behind bars, but I can help improve conditions for access to information to those who are behind bars,” said James. And that is precisely what he has done.

Ray’s years of service include many hours of work on behalf of the Intellectual Freedom Round Table as well as work on behalf of the Freedom to Read Foundation.  Elected a trustee of the foundation, Ray stepped down after one term because he believed that the Foundation needed the input of librarians and intellectual freedom advocates who represented traditionally marginalized communities.  

Even as his service to FTRF concludes, Ray continues his advocacy on behalf of incarcerated persons’ intellectual freedom as the United States’ representative to the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) Task Force that is working to establish international standards for prison libraries. 

All during his years of service, Ray worked full-time as an information scientist and researcher for a private concern until his retirement in 2019.

Ray will be honored Friday June 24 at the Opening General Session of the 2022 ALA Annual Meeting and that evening at the Freedom to Read Celebration honoring Ray and other intellectual freedom award recipients.

Chicago, IL

June 3, 2022

Registration has closed as we reached (virtual) seating capacity.  Please visit the site for ongoing opportunities.

Freedom to Read Foundation to Host 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.

Online registration is open for the symposium via this link. Those interested in attending can also inquire about registration by sending an email to ftrf@ala.org. 

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.

Freedom to Read Foundation 2022 Election Results

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF), a non-profit legal and educational organization affiliated with the American Library Association dedicated to protecting and defending each person’s First Amendment right to read, concluded its annual election on May 1, 2022. FTRF members elected four new members to its Board of Trustees and re-elected one incumbent board member for two-year terms that begin on June 23, 2022. Since 1969 FTRF trustees, staff, and members have worked to protect First Amendment rights through education, litigation, and advocacy.

“As Americans, we cannot take our First Amendment rights for granted.  Our right to free speech and our right to read are being challenged daily in all parts of the United States.   We welcome the strong leaders who have been elected to the FTRF Board and join with them to support, defend, and advocate for our First Amendment rights and assure intellectual freedom, equitable access, and the freedom to read for all members of our communities,” said current FTRF President Barbara Stripling.

Newly elected trustees include:

Jarrett Dapier is new to the Freedom to Read Foundation Board but has volunteered as a speaker for their graduate course collaboration for a number of years. “I am interested in being a part of the FTRF board because of the vital, crucial work this body does to protect the right of all Americans to read. This right is currently under widespread assault from a variety of groups all working in concert to control schools, teachers, and librarians - all professionals who are trained to provide students with accurate information about our world, its history, and its art. I am a tireless advocate for free expression and the right to read and I don't let things go easily, especially when youth rights are violated,” said Dapier. Dapier has worked at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of IL on the First Amendment Rights Project, and since 2009 in public libraries where he adapted and directed stories about censorship to the stage with teen performers. He is also the author of the picture book Mr. Watson's Chickens, which is currently being challenged for removal at a public library in Spanish Fort, Alabama.

Jennifer Griswold is the Director of the Pflugerville Public Library in Pflugerville, Texas. She ran for a seat on the Board of Trustees to challenge censorship both locally, and on the national level. She has worked at Pflugerville since 2006 as the Reference Librarian, Assistant Director, and for the past six years as Library Director. Her background is also in news research and academic librarianship. In 2018 Griswold was awarded the honor of being Texas Librarian of the Year, and she is a current member of the Texas Library Association Queers and Allies Roundtable; the Ethnic and Multicultural Exchange Roundtable, the ALA Intellectual Freedom Roundtable, and the staff liaison for the Pflugerville Equity Commission.

“Libraries in Texas are on the frontlines of the censorship battle. Area directors meet to discuss the issue, those who are experiencing challenges, and those who are policing themselves out of fear. I believe I can offer a unique perspective not only from myself, but also my colleagues who are involved in active challenges,” said Griswold.

Pat Scales is a retired middle and high school librarian and a returning FTRF trustee.

“Book censorship is at epidemic levels, and America’s youth are the target. FTRF promotes and defends students’ right to read, but now, more than ever, the young need to be guided and taught to advocate for themselves. Proactively involving youth in defending their First Amendment rights assures a new generation of free speech advocates and could inoculate them against falling victim to a virus called censorship,” said Scales.

She is a free-speech advocate and is the author of Teaching Banned Books: 32 Guides for Children and Teens, Protecting Intellectual Freedom in Your School Library and Books Under Fire: A Hit List of Banned and Challenged Children’s Books. She writes a bi-monthly column, Scales on Censorship, for School Library Journal, and is a regular contributor to Book Links magazine. She has also served as a member and chair of the ALA’s Intellectual Freedom Committee.

Professor Sophia Sotilleo is an Associate Professor and the Interim Library Director at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania for the Langston Hughes Memorial Library. In this capacity, she has the privilege to teach Information Literacy across all subject areas and works with the Library Team to support and ensure that the Library is a part of the Lincoln University curriculum and co-curriculum strategic plans for student success. Her current area of research and interest is in Embedded Librarianship, with a focus on access, advocacy, and leadership in the field of Librarianship.

“I am interested in serving on the Freedom to Read Board to support the work of an organization that defends and promotes the rights of libraries to ensure access to books and information. Working as a librarian at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), serving first generation college students, I see daily the importance of having access to various types of books that not only educate, but also empower and encourage our next generation of leaders. The freedom to read foundation continues to do an amazing job at defending and supporting access to information and I look forward to serving with the organization in this inspiring and important work.”

Re-elected for a second term: Loida Garcia-Febo is a Past President of the American Library Association, a current member of the FTRF Executive Committee, and is looking forward to continuing the work she started by Co-Chairing the FTRF Social Justice and Intellectual Freedom Task Force which resulted in the development of various lines of action and a forthcoming two-day FTRF symposium about the topic. Garcia-Febo has served as Chair of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Intellectual Freedom Round Table, long-time active REFORMA (the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking) liaison to the FTRF, and an Officer of International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions Advisory Committee on Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (IFLA's FAIFE). She is committed to serve diverse communities and to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion achieving joint historical signatory commitment from US library associations to EDI on which they are building new strategies to serve libraries and library workers. “I am eager to continue serving and working together with the FTRF Trustees to continue protecting and defending the First Amendment to the Constitution,” said Garcia-Febo.

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is led by a board of fifteen trustees. The term for an elected trustee is two years, and board members may serve two consecutive terms. Trustees meet at least twice a year in conjunction with the ALA conferences or professional development events and hold virtual committee meetings throughout the year. If you are interested in working with the Freedom to Read Foundation visit us at www.ftrf.org or email jmcintosh@ala.org for information on how to become involved.

Applications Open for Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund Programming Grants

Books Unite Us: Censorship Divides Us

Grants are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Imagination: What makes your plan unique? How have you integrated the concept that Books Unite Us: Censorship Divides Us?

• Schedule/Action Plan: Include key dates, responsibilities, and think of ways to collaborate with other groups to carry out a creative project.

• Promotional Plan: What are the ways you will promote your event and who is your intended audience?  Do you have a media and social media plan?

• Budget. It is preferred that institutions and other groups they are working with partially contribute to the funding of proposed events rather than solely relying on the grant. Designating funds for the purchase of books, or as an honorarium for one speaker, is discouraged.

To be eligible for a grant, organizations must not have been a recipient of an FTRF grant within the past five years. 

FTRF Founder Judith F. Krug was a fierce proponent of education and intellectual freedom.  During Krug’s lengthy career she worked non-stop to prevent censorship and protect First Amendment rights. Apply here or visit the Freedom to Read Foundation online to apply and learn more about past recipients and their projects through the Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund.  Contact FTRF Assistant Program Director Joyce McIntosh, jmcintosh@ala.org or 312-280-4223, with questions.

FTRF members who were current as of April 1, 2022 will  receive an online ballot from vote@skypunch.tech. Please check your spam mail if you do not see a link.  FTRF members who have not provided us with an email, will receive a paper ballot in the mail which will need to be filled out and returned by May 1, 2022.

Contact Joyce McIntosh, jmcintosh@ala.org or 312-280-4226 with questions.

Members of the FTRF Nominating Committee have evaluated and slated the following candidates for the election:

Jarrett Dapier

I am interested in being a part of the FTRF board because of the vital, crucial work this body does to protect the right of all Americans to read. This right is currently under widespread assault from a variety of groups all working in concert to control schools, teachers, and librarians - all professionals who are trained to provide students with accurate information about our world, its history, and its art. I am a tireless advocate for free expression and the right to read and I don't let things go easily, especially when youth rights are violated. Having worked at the ACLU of IL on the First Amendment Rights Project and since 2009 in public libraries where I have adapted and directed stories about censorship to the stage with teen performers, I have dedicated much of my professional life to fighting censorship. I am also the author of the picture book Mr. Watson's Chickens, which is currently being challenged for removal at a public library in Spanish Fort, Alabama. I will contribute my own experience and my passion to this board in ways that I believe will complement the already excellent work being done there. 

Skip Dye
SKIP DYE is SVP, Library Sales, and Digital Strategy at Penguin Random House. Skip has been at PRH for over 25 years. Skip is a strong advocate for library funding and Intellectual Freedom. He has served as President of United for Libraries (2018-19), Member of ALA Nominating Committee (2020), and is currently serving as Co-Chair of United’s Intellectual Freedom task force. Skip is a board member of the Friends of Lewes Public Library in Lewes, DE (the first town in the first state).

I am honored to be nominated to serve as a Trustee on the FTRF Board. I do not take lightly the active responsibilities that this position holds, and the importance of championing intellectual freedom as new laws are being considered or passed that negatively impact our country’s foundational core. My strength is my staunch belief in and support for the Reader’s Bill of Rights, the First Amendment, and the Library Bill of Rights. I bring a voice and unique experiences and skills to the table which I hope can affect positive change and continue the mission of the Freedom to Read Foundation.

Loida Garcia-Febo

Loida Garcia-Febo is past President of the American Library Association, member of the FTRF Executive Committee, running for a second with FTRF to continue work she started by Co-Chairing the FTRF Social Justice and Intellectual Freedom Task Force which resulted in the development of various lines of action and a forthcoming two-day FTRF symposium about the topic. Served as Chair of the Intellectual Freedom Round Table, long-time active REFORMA's liaison to the FTRF, and Officer of IFLA's FAIFE. Committed to serve diverse communities and to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion achieving joint historical signatory commitment from US library associations to EDI on which they are building new strategies to serve libraries and library workers. Long-time advocate of free access to information and freedom of expression. Actively advocated at national and local levels for laws and measures protecting privacy, against censorship, supporting network neutrality and many other issues within the work of the FTRF. Collaborated with the FTRF, ALA’s IFC and IFRT speaking about freedom to read, ethics and diversity, intellectual freedom 101, and coordinating events to celebrate FTRF 45th anniversary. Eager to continue serving and working together with the FTRF Trustees to continue protecting and defending the First Amendment to the Constitution.

Harvey Graff

 I am a distinguished historian of literacy. Author of many books and articles, until my retirement, I was the inaugural Ohio Eminent Scholar in Literacy Studies at  Ohio State University, where I founded and directed the unique, university-wide, interdisciplinary initiative LiteracyStudies@OSU.

I have been honored in Europe, the Middle East, and South America as well as the United States and Canada. My writings are translated widely. They include the landmark The Literacy Myth; The Legacies of Literacy; Literacy Myths, Legacies, and Lessons; and in press Searching for Literacy: The Social and Intellectual Origins of Literacy Studies. 

I am also a leading historian of children, youth, and families in North America and Europe, and comparative U.S., Canadian, and European history. My 1995 book, Conflicting Paths: Growing Up in America and 2015 Undisciplining Knowledge are considered  classic.

I speak from almost half a century of classroom teaching and close relationships with young people and their intellectual, social, and emotional development as they become young citizens. 

I speak with professional and personal knowledge of most of the works of literature that the radical banners seek to remove. I am active nationally with  groups ranging from Honesty in Ohio Education to ACLU and AAUP.

Jennifer Griswold

My name is Jennifer Griswold, I am the Director of the Pflugerville Public Library in Pflugerville, Texas. I am running for the Board of Trustees to challenge censorship locally, and on the national level.

I have worked for Pflugerville since 2006 as the Reference Librarian, Assistant Director, and for the past six years, Library Director. I have a background in news research and academic librarianship. I have a B.A. in English from St. Edwards University, and a Master of Science in Information from the University of Texas.

I was the 2018 Texas Librarian of the Year, and am a current member of the Texas Library Association Queers and Allies Roundtable; the Ethnic and Multicultural Exchange Roundtable, the ALA Intellectual Freedom Roundtable, and the staff liaison for the Pflugerville Equity Commission.

Libraries in Texas are on the frontlines of the censorship battle. Area directors meet to discuss the issue, those who are experiencing challenges, and those who are policing themselves out of fear. I believe I can offer a unique perspective not only from myself, but also my colleagues who are involved in active challenges. Thank you for the opportunity to voice my interest in running for the Board of Trustees.

Paul Grondahl

As director of the New York State Writers Institute, as a journalist for four decades and as the author of numerous books, my work and my actions have underscored my commitment to the First Amendment, freedom of the press and right to read and write whatever one wishes without censorship. This freedom of intellectual and artistic expression is a fragile and challenged constitutional right that must be fostered and defended.

I am submitting my name as a candidate for Freedom to Read Foundation’s Board of Trustees because I believe in these bedrock democratic principles. I actively practice and defend them in my professional life and push back against challenges on my broad platform of a weekly column in the Albany Times Union and large social media audience.

Sherelle Harris

I am Director of the Norwalk Public Library, where I have worked for 23 years, starting as a part-time YA Librarian. Hailing from Illinois, I am a die-hard Midwesterner in Connecticut. I have a BA in Journalism from Columbia College Chicago and an MLS from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. 

I am freelance journalist.
I have been awarded for my creative works.
I love the core values of librarianship.

Let’s talk about trial by fire! I was promoted to my current post last April. One month later I received persistent requests to remove a book from the library. I sympathized, but called ALA and CLA for help. 

I recall the time I was a long-term substitute in a school library and the principal told
me to remove a particular book from the library. I challenged him. In my home I have
the type of books I want to read, but when I’d build collections, I purchased many
books that offend me. I believe in the challenge of opposing viewpoints.

I will bring to the Freedom to Read Foundation Trustees my belief in and support of the First Amendment, and my understanding of the fiduciary responsibility that supports the legal work.

Wanda Huffaker

Wanda Mae Huffaker served on the Board of Trustees 2020-2022. She particularly enjoyed working with the Roll of Honor committee, as a liaison for the Robert B. Downs Award and helping coordinate a joint, virtual award ceremony with IFRT (Intellectual Freedom Roundtable) recipients in 2021. Honoring intellectual freedom champions, and awarding grants, like the Judith Krug Banned Books Week Grants is a way to share the excitement we feel about being involved with the Freedom to Read Foundation. Wanda has served as IFRT chair, her state chapter IFC chair and even a few ALA IFC working groups.

She has been proud to represent FTRF the past few months; as book banning’s have increased, reporters doing advance research on her name often found reference to the foundation and asked about it. It underscores that all we do, including press releases, can play a role in the work of the freedom to read. It also reminds us that everyone can have a role in protecting that freedom.

Pat Scales

Pat Scales is a retired middle and high school librarian. She is a free-speech advocate and is the author of  Teaching Banned Books: 32 Guides for Children and Teens, Protecting Intellectual Freedom in Your School Library and Books Under Fire: A Hit List of Banned and Challenged Children’s Books. She writes a bi-monthly column, Scales on Censorship, for School Library Journal, and is a regular contributor to Book Links magazine. She has served as a member and chair of the ALA’s Intellectual Freedom Committee.

Book censorship is at epidemic levels, and America’s youth are the target. The FTRF promotes and defends students’ right to read, but now, more than ever, the young need to be guided and taught to advocate for themselves. Proactively involving youth in defending their First Amendment rights assures a new generation of free speech advocates and could inoculate them against falling victim to a virus called censorship.

Sophia Sotilleo

Professor Sophia Sotilleo is an Associate Professor and the Interim Library Director at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania for the Langston Hughes Memorial Library. In this capacity, she has the privilege to teach Information Literacy across all subject areas, and works with the Library Team to support and ensure that the Library is a part of the Lincoln University curriculum and co-curriculum strategic plans for student success. Her current area of research and interest is in Embedded Librarianship, with a focus on access, advocacy, and leadership in the field of Librarianship.

I am interested in serving on the Freedom to Read Board to support the work of an organization that defends and promote the rights of libraries to ensure access to books and information. Working as a librarian at an Historically Black College and University (HBCU), serving first generation college students, I see daily the importance of having access to various types of books that not only educate, but also empower and encourage our next generation of leaders. The freedom to read foundation continues to do an amazing job at defending and supporting access to information and I look forward to serving with the organization in this inspiring and important work.

Students from Granbury ISD in Granbury, Texas are speaking out against a decision by their school board to remove 130 titles from school library shelves for review. They are selling anti-censorship t-shirts and are donating proceeds to the Freedom to Read Foundation . 

One of the students, Kennedy Tackett, explained the design of the shirt. “The term radical gaslighter comes from the school board meeting. Students and community members spoke up, and those are the names the superintendent decided to use afterwards. We wanted to take that back and use it to empower.”

The “Radical Gaslighter” t-shirts may be ordered through Custom Ink.

Watch Kennedy and other students and parents address the school board on this twitter thread courtesy of Christopher Tackett.