OIF Blog

Freedom to Read Foundation 5th Annual Author Event

January 17th, 2010 ~ 6:00 to 8:45pm

Community Church of Boston ~ 565 Boylston Street

In conjunction with the GLBTRT Midwinter Social

Please join us at this fantastic event, where authors Lesléa Newman (Heather Has Two Mommies) and Michael Willhoite (Daddy’s Roommate) will be discussing and signing copies of their groundbreaking books.

Refreshments will be provided. 

Donations will be accepted at the door to cover costs and support the Freedom to Read Foundation’s Conable Scholarship Fund, and the GLBTRT is conducting a book drive of “useful and current” titles for GLBT youth to donate to the Community Church of Boston’s resource library.  Copies of the authors’ books will be available for purchase.

Schedule:

• 6:00 – 7:00pm: Socializing
• 7:00 – 7:30pm: Stonewall Book Award Ceremony
• 7:30 – 8:15pm: Lesléa Newman and Michael Willhoite
• 8:15 – 8:45pm: Book signing and socializing

Heather Has Two Mommies and Daddy’s Roommate have been two of the most frequently challenged books in the U.S. since they were published 20 years ago. They were among the first children’s books to focus on gay and lesbian parents and have been challenged (jointly and separately) innumerable times, including during the well-publicized “Rainbow Curriculum” controversy in New York City. They were also the subject of a Freedom to Read Foundation court case in Wichita Falls, Texas, in which a federal court overturned a law allowing the “banning by petition” of those books and others.

Newman is the author of 57 books for adults and children. She is currently the poet laureate of Northampton, Mass. A resident of Rhode Island, Willhoite has written and illustrated several other children’s books, including Daddy’s Wedding and Uncle What-Is-It is Coming to Visit!!

For more information, contact Jonathan Kelley at (800) 545-2433 x4226 or jokelley@ala.org.

Tags: Freedom to Read Foundation, Midwinter Meeting/Annual Conference, Special Events by Jonathan Kelley
No Comments »

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) has announced the nominating committee for its April 2010 election.  Members are: Candace Morgan, Portland, Ore. (chair); Christine Jenkins, Champaign, Ill.; and Burton Joseph, Chicago.

Five positions on the FTRF board of trustees will be filled in the election to be held April 1 – May 1, 2010.  Newly elected trustees will serve a two-year term on the board, beginning at the close of the 2010 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference and continuing through the end of the 2012 ALA Annual Conference.  Trustees are required to attend two one-day meetings per year, in conjunction with the ALA Annual Conference and Midwinter Meeting.

Only FTRF members are eligible to seek election to the board.

Nominations should be sent by Jan. 13, 2010 to: Freedom to Read Foundation, Attn: Candace Morgan, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611.  In addition, nominations may be e-mailed to ftrf@ala.org.  FTRF members also may be slated for candidacy by petition by submitting 25 signatures of current FTRF members in support of the candidate.  The executive director of the Foundation must receive names of petition candidates and the required signatures to support each no later than Jan. 29, 2010.

Tags: Freedom to Read Foundation by Jonathan Kelley
No Comments »

Photos from the Freedom to Read Foundation’s 40th Anniversary Gala are now on the FTRF website, and the video has been posted to OIF’s Blip TV page.  The Gala was a marvelous event that raised tens of thousands of dollars to support the work of the Foundation.  Many thanks to the sponsors and volunteers for all their help!  See you at the 50th!!

Tags: Freedom to Read Foundation, Midwinter Meeting/Annual Conference, Special Events, Uncategorized by Jonathan Kelley
No Comments »

The Freedom to Read Foundation is offering free one-year memberships to students graduating from ALA-accredited MLS and MLIS programs and from school library media programs recognized by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), an educational unit accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Students whose graduation date was Aug. 1, 2009 or later can, upon their graduation, download a membership form at www.ftrf.org/graduates and mail, fax or e-mail it to the Freedom to Read Foundation.

“We are very excited to offer this gift to new librarians,” said FTRF president Kent Oliver. “By becoming members of the Freedom to Read Foundation, these professionals will be helping the librarians and library supporters who are on the front lines defending intellectual freedom as well as vital First Amendment litigation that helps uphold many of the core values of librarianship. Offering these free memberships is our way of encouraging the long-term support of the organization and the intellectual freedom principles it upholds.”

As benefits of their membership, the graduates will receive the Freedom to Read Foundation’s quarterly newsletter, be eligible to vote in the annual trustee election, and attend FTRF member receptions. The membership will be good through December 2010.

The Freedom to Read Foundation, an affiliated organization of the American Library Association, was founded in 1969 to promote and defend the right of individuals to freely express ideas and to access information in libraries and elsewhere. FTRF fulfills its mission through the disbursement of grants to individuals and groups, primarily for the purpose of aiding them in litigation, and through direct participation in litigation dealing with freedom of speech and of the press.

Questions? Contact Jonathan at (800) 545-2433 x4226 or jokelley@ala.org.

Tags: Freedom to Read Foundation by Jonathan Kelley
No Comments »

In case you missed her last year, Carolyn Forsman is back! Please visit booth 3431 in the exhibits area at ALA’s Annual Conference in Chicago to check out her new designs – including the brand new “Obama Makes History” Front Page Newspaper Pins. As always, Carolyn has an incredible assortment of affordable gifts (top retail price of $50) that will make you smile. Her famous Banned Books bracelets are now joined by necklaces and pins, along with her standard flashing “spike” rings, glowing necklaces, peace symbol jewelry, and newspaper headline pins.  Proceeds from her sales go to support the important work of the Freedom to Read Foundation.

Carolyn’s jewelry is currently featured in the Museum of Modern Art (9 different styles) and Signals catalog, along with various other museums and book/gift/library shops worldwide. A former librarian and ALA Councilor, Carolyn has raised over $100,000 through the years for the Freedom to Read Foundation, and was named to the Foundation’s Roll of Honor in 2001.

We highly encourage you to visit her at booth 3431, browse for some summer gifts, and support the critical First Amendment work of the Freedom to Read Foundation.

Tags: Freedom to Read Foundation, Midwinter Meeting/Annual Conference by Bryan Campbell
No Comments »

We invite all those who are new to ALA’s Annual Conference, to librarianship, to ALA itself, or to the world of Intellectual Freedom to attend the following session:

Intellectual Freedom 101
Friday, July 10, 2009
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

McCormick Place West, Room W-194a

This session is part of ALA’s “Conference 101″ series of programs.

Our excellent speakers will discuss the history and ongoing work of OIF, IFC, IFRT, FTRF, COPE, the Merritt Fund, and more! Curious to know what these acronyms mean? Want to get more involved in this critical aspect of librarianship?  This is the session for you!

Tags: Committee on Professional Ethics (COPE), Freedom to Read Foundation, General Interest, Intellectual Freedom Committee, Intellectual Freedom Issues, Intellectual Freedom Round Table, LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund, Midwinter Meeting/Annual Conference, Office for Intellectual Freedom, Privacy, Special Events by Jonathan Kelley
No Comments »

Meet the librarians and community members who are fighting to keep library materials on the shelves in West Bend, Wisconsin!

A special panel sponsored by the the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee and the Freedom to Read Foundation at ALA’s Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois will feature West Bend Community Library director Michael Tyree, young adult librarian Kristin Pekoll, library board president Barbara Deters, former library board member Mary Reilly-Kliss, and community organizer Maria Hanrahan. The panelists will share their unique experience and insights gained in addressing multiple challenges to young adult and GLBT materials in the West Bend Community Library, including a demand to publicly burn (!) Francesca Lia Block’s Young Adult novel, Baby Be-Bop.

The panel, part of the IFC Issues Briefing, will take place on Monday, July 13, at 8:00 a.m. in Room W194a in McCormick Place West convention center. You must be registered for the ALA Annual Conference to attend.

The controversy arose in February 2009 when a West Bend couple filed a request to reconsider books included in the library’s “Out of the Closet” bibliography aimed at youth interested in GLBT issues, as well as books deemed “sexually explicit.” Over the following weeks and months, the couple helped to form a citizens’ group, West Bend Citizens for Safe Libraries, and circulated a petition asking the library to move young adult books to the adult section, label certain material as objectionable, and restrict access to categories of online content. A second citizens’ group, West Bend Parents For Free Speech, was formed to oppose the requested restrictions and to support the library’s existing policies. A third organization, the Christian Civil Liberties Union, eventually filed a widely-reported claim with the City of West Bend that asserted that the library had injured its members by placing the young adult novel, Baby BeBop, in the library’s collection. The group asked for money damages and demanded that Baby Be-Bop be publicly burned “as a deterrent to repeating this offensive conduct.”

In June 2009, the West Bend Community Library Board voted unanimously to retain the challenged books in its YA Zone, “without removing, relocating, labeling, or otherwise restricting access.” The five panelists, all librarians, trustees, and community members directly involved with the challenges, will discuss their experiences and their plans to continue the ongoing work of maintaining unrestricted access to information for everyone in their community.

See also: ALA President Issues Statement Concerning the Library Controversy in West Bend, WI

Office for Intellectual Freedom Letter to the West Bend Common Council

Links:

West Bend Community Library

West Bend Community Library YA Zone

West Bend Parents for Free Speech

Tags: Censorship, Freedom to Read Foundation, Intellectual Freedom Committee, Midwinter Meeting/Annual Conference, Special Events by Deborah Caldwell-Stone
No Comments »

Come join Cory Doctorow and your friends from the Freedom to Read Foundation at the July 9 performance of Little Brother, a stage version of Doctorow’s award-winning novel. The show, an original production of the Griffin Theatre Company, has gotten some great reviews. It will be performed at the Athenaeum Theatre building in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood.

Doctorow will be at the July 9 performance, and will answer questions after the show. Little Brother is an homage to George Orwell’s classic 1984, updated to tackle today’s issues regarding privacy, surveillance, and technology.   It is a nominee for the 2009 Hugo Award for best novel.

Tickets are limited, so email ftrf@ala.org *now* or call (312) 280-4226 to order your ticket. Tickets are $25, and a portion of the proceeds benefits the Freedom to Read Foundation. Visa/MasterCard/American Express only.

**See video of Little Brother below!**

Tags: Freedom to Read Foundation, Special Events by Jonathan Kelley
No Comments »

Robert P. Doyle, executive director of the Illinois Library Association (ILA), is the recipient of the 2009 Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) Roll of Honor Award.

Doyle, who is serving his first term on the FTRF Board of Directors, was reelected to a second term in April’s trustee election. He currently serves with 2008 Roll of Honor Award recipient Burt Joseph as co-chair of the FTRF 40th Anniversary Celebration Committee; the 40th anniversary will be celebrated on July 12, 2009 at ALA’s Annual Conference in Chicago.

In addition to his position at ILA, Doyle serves as editor of the Banned Books Resource Guide, a compendium of thousands of books that have been subject to censorship challenges. Prior to joining ILA, Doyle served as director of ALA’s International Relations Office and before that, as deputy director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, under Judith Krug’s leadership.

“I am thrilled to announce Bob Doyle as this year’s Roll of Honor awardee,” said Roll of Honor Committee chair Kent Oliver. “Bob’s reputation as a fierce advocate of intellectual freedom is known throughout the library world. He has successfully shepherded ILA through quite a few legislative attempts to restrict intellectual freedom, and under his leadership, ILA has trained countless librarians on their rights and responsibilities under the First Amendment.”

“Bob’s indefatigable work putting together the 40th Anniversary Gala has been an impressive thing to watch,” said FTRF Acting Executive Director Deborah Caldwell-Stone. “Thanks to him, we will have a truly wonderful evening to celebrate FTRF, the McCormick Freedom Museum and, of course, the life and legacy of our mutual hero Judith Krug.”

The award will be presented at the 2009 ALA Annual Conference during its Opening General Session from 5:30-7 p.m. on Saturday, June July 11, at McCormick Place.

The Freedom to Read Foundation Roll of Honor was established in 1987 to recognize and honor those individuals who have contributed substantially to FTRF through adherence to its principles and/or substantial monetary support. FTRF was founded in 1969 to promote and defend the right of individuals to freely express ideas and to access information in libraries and elsewhere. FTRF fulfills its mission through the disbursement of grants to individuals and groups, primarily for the purpose of aiding them in litigation, and through direct participation in litigation dealing with freedom of speech and of the press.

Tags: Freedom to Read Foundation by admin
No Comments »

Amanda Sharpe, a graduate student in the University of California at Los Angeles’s Department of Information Studies, has been named the second recipient of the Freedom to Read Foundation’s Gordon M. Conable Conference Scholarship.  The Conable Scholarship will provide for the conference registration, transportation and accommodations for Sharpe to attend the 2009 American Library Association Annual Conference in Chicago.

In return, she will be expected to attend various FTRF and other intellectual freedom meetings and programs at the conference, consult with a mentor/board member and present a report about her experiences and thoughts.  She will be recognized at the FTRF Annual Member Reception from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, in room 201C of the McCormick Place Convention Center Grand Ballroom D of the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

Sharpe holds a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Barbara and spent several years as an elementary school teacher before starting at UCLA last fall.  She has extensive volunteer experience with Spanish-speaking and incarcerated youth in California.  In addition to her responsibilities as the Conable Scholarship recipient, she will be giving a poster session at the ALA Annual Conference’s Diversity Fair.

“Amanda’s efforts in promoting reading to incarcerated youth was a key reason she was selected over an impressive group of applicants,” said Conable Scholarship committee Chair Candace Morgan.  “The right of prisoners to have access to information is an issue that is increasingly prominent in the intellectual freedom community.  The severe restriction of reading material to imprisoned young people does them – and society – no favors.  We look forward to helping Amanda as she continues to shine a light on this area.”

The Conable Scholarship was created to advance two principles that Gordon Conable held dear: intellectual freedom and mentorship.  Gordon Conable was a California librarian and intellectual freedom champion who served several terms as president of the Freedom to Read Foundation.  His unexpected death in 2005 inspired his wife, Irene Conable, and the FTRF Board to create the Conable Fund , which provides funding for the Conable Scholarship.

To donate to the Conable Fund, please visit http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/othergroups/freedomtoreadfoundation/relatedlinks/conablememoralfund.cfm or call (800) 545-2433, ext. 4226.

Tags: Freedom to Read Foundation, Midwinter Meeting/Annual Conference, Uncategorized by Jonathan Kelley
No Comments »