OIF Blog

“Every generation needs a new revolution.” — Thomas Jefferson

ALA’s new privacy rights initiative, “Privacy for All: Rallying Americans to Defend Our Freedoms,” is intended to inspire library patrons to stand with librarians as they fight to usher in privacy standards in the digital age. The initiative responds to ALA Council’s resolution calling for a national conversation on privacy, passed at the 2006 Annual Conference in New Orleans.

To help kick off the initiative, OIF is sponsoring a panel at this week’s ALA Annual Conference that promises a stimulating discussion about privacy, libraries, and society.

“Privacy: Is It Time for a Revolution?” will feature author Cory Doctorow, Wired senior writer Dan Roth, and Privacy Rights Clearinghouse director Beth Givens in a discussion about the state of privacy in the 21st century. Do people – young people in particular – still care about privacy? How has the rise of online social networking changed our attitudes and reality? How can we get people thinking about the importance of privacy?

“Privacy: Is It Time for a Revolution” will be on Sunday, June 29, 2008; 1:30-3:30 p.m. in room 201D of the Anaheim Convention Center.

In conjunction with the program, OIF has just launched an online survey for librarians, library users, and others about the issues related to privacy today. Please visit www.privacyrevolution.org and take this (short) survey today! [Note: the survey will only be online for a couple of weeks, so don't delay!]

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For those unable to join us at Sunday’s program, there are a couple of bloggers who will be there, and you also can follow the action via twitter!

Jessamyn West of librarian.net is accepting suggested questions via the comments section on the blog post she wrote on Thursday. As she mentions, the twitter stream for the program is at http://twitter.com/privacyala. ALA staff member Jenny Levine of the Shifted Librarian will be blogging as well.

ALA’s “Privacy for All” initiative is made possible by a $350,000 grant from the Open Society Institute.

Tags: Privacy by Jonathan Kelley
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We’d like to take a moment to remember George Carlin, the fearless comic who challenged censorship and the censorship mindset whenever he could.

Carlin passed away this weekend at the age of 71. The Nation offers an appreciation for Carlin’s career. The Chicago Tribune discusses the United States’ continuing struggle with defining the profane and the acceptable, and Carlin’s impact on that debate.

The transcript of Carlin’s infamous stand-up routine that earned review in the Supreme Court, “Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television,” is available as an appendix to the Supreme Court decision.

Tags: Censorship by Deborah Caldwell-Stone
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The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is proud to announce that Jason McGill, a student at the University of Rhode Island’s Library and Information Studies program, has been named the first recipient of the Gordon M. Conable Scholarship. The Conable Scholarship was created to advance two principles that Gordon Conable held dear: intellectual freedom and mentorship. The scholarship provides for the registration, transportation, and accommodations for a library school student or new professional to attend ALA’s Annual Conference. The 2008 conference will be in Anaheim, California.

McGill holds a B.A. from Brown University, and also is enrolled in URI’s Masters English program. His work experience includes positions with a number of non-profit organizations, including the Prisoners’ Literature Project; In-Sight, a close-circuit radio station for the blind and visually impaired; and the Everett Dance Theatre in Providence.

“Jason’s multifaceted background, his obvious interest in intellectual freedom, and his commitment to involvement with the Rhode Island Library Association to support anti-censorship efforts make him an excellent choice to receive the first Conable Scholarship,” said Candace Morgan, chair of the selection committee. “Gordon was a mentor to so many, including me. It’s an honor to be able to celebrate his legacy in this way.”

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. In return for the scholarship, McGill 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 his experiences and thoughts. He will be recognized at the FTRF Annual Member Reception on Sunday, June 29, 4:30-6:00 p.m. in room 201C of the Anaheim Convention Center.

To donate to the Conable Fund, please click here or call (800) 545-2433 x4226.

Tags: Freedom to Read Foundation by Jonathan Kelley
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Registration is now open for the Lawyers for Libraries/Florida training, scheduled for Friday, November 14, 2008 in Tampa. This is the first Lawyers for Libraries training in Florida, and the 14th overall.

The Lawyers for Libraries Institute is primarily intended to equip attorneys with tools they need to effectively defend the First Amendment in libraries. Participants will be instructed by practicing attorneys specializing in First Amendment law and will be eligible for continuing legal education (CLE) credits for their participation.

Lawyers for Libraries workshops are open to licensed, practicing attorneys retained to represent or advise libraries on legal issues. Library trustees or board members who are responsible for establishing library policy may also attend. Librarians may attend if they are accompanied by a library attorney – in fact, we encourage librarians to participate to better discuss the specific policy needs of their public, academic, or school library.

Among the topics to be covered during the institute are:

* Privacy, law enforcement requests for records and the USA PATRIOT Act;
* Public forum analysis and libraries, including developing meeting room and display case policies;
* Internet filtering and the ongoing repercussions of the Supreme Court’s CIPA decision;
* How to respond to attempts to censor books and other library materials.

In addition, a panel of librarians will discuss their real-world experiences with creating and enforcing library policies.

“We’re excited to bring Lawyers for Libraries to Florida for the first time,” said ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) Director Judith F. Krug. “Lawyers for Libraries has helped hundreds of attorneys, trustees and librarians better understand the case law and legislation related to their work on behalf of libraries. These participants have gone on to improve libraries across the country by drafting strong policies, providing advice to those facing difficult questions, conducting trainings and being advocates for intellectual freedom in their communities.”

The training is from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Doubletree Guest Suites Tampa Bay, 3050 North Rocky Point Drive in Tampa. Lodging is available at the newly renovated hotel at just $109 per night.

* To reserve online, go to www.doubletreetampabay.com, click on “Reservations,” complete your arrival information and use the group/convention code: ALA.

* To reserve by phone, call (813) 888-8800 and reserve using group code: ALA.

To register for the Lawyers for Libraries/Florida Institute, or if you have any questions, please visit www.ala.org/lawyers or contact Jonathan Kelley, (800) 545-2433, ext. 4221, or e-mail, jokelley@ala.org. The cost to attend an institute is $395.00 for one and $745.00 for two.

Tags: Office for Intellectual Freedom by Jonathan Kelley
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Burton Joseph, a prominent Chicago First Amendment attorney, is the recipient of the 2008 Freedom to Read Foundation Roll of Honor Award.

Joseph has served several terms on the FTRF board, including a number of terms as vice president. He currently is serving with Robert P. Doyle as co-chair of the FTRF 40th Anniversary Celebration Committee; the 40th anniversary will be celebrated in 2009 at ALA’s Annual Conference in Chicago.

In addition to his work in private practice with his firm, Joseph, Lichtenstein & Levinson, Joseph serves as counsel to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and special counsel to Playboy Enterprises. He is also an active member and former chair of the Media Coalition, a First Amendment trade organization of which FTRF is a member; a cooperating attorney with the ACLU; and a founder of Chicago’s Lawyers for the Creative Arts.

Joseph’s First Amendment work began in the 1960s when he was a volunteer attorney for the historic defense of Henry Miller’s Tropic of Cancer. In the intervening years, he has tried a number of landmark First Amendment cases, including ABA v. Hudnut and ABA v. Virginia, and was counsel for American Library Association v. Reno, the case that led to the overturning of portions of the Communications Decency Act in 1997.

FTRF Executive Director Judith Krug said:

It’s hard to imagine someone more deserving of the Roll of Honor Award than Burt Joseph. His dedication to the Freedom to Read Foundation is unparalleled, and his yeoman’s efforts on behalf of the First Amendment are historic. Librarians in particular are appreciative of Burt Joseph’s litigation successes, as they have helped ensure that we are able to practice our profession to its fullest extent. It is truly a pleasure to be able to recognize Burt and his legendary accomplishments in this way.

The award will be presented at the 2008 ALA Annual Conference during its Opening General Session from 5:30-7 p.m. on Saturday, June 28, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.

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.

Tags: Freedom to Read Foundation by Jonathan Kelley
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Here are more opportunities to discuss and learn about Intellectual Freedom, ethics, and privacy at ALA’s Annual Conference in Anaheim.

And don’t forget to check out these Intellectual Freedom programs, posted earlier this week.

AASL President’s Program: Intellectual Freedom: A Core Value
Saturday, June 28
10:30 a.m.-Noon
Ballroom E, Anaheim Convention Center
Sponsored by AASL

The 2008 AASL President’s Program will revisit the school librarian’s commitment to one of the two core values of the profession, intellectual freedom. The keynote speaker is Susan Patron, author of the controversial 2007 Newbery Medal book The Higher Power of Lucky and retired Juvenile Materials Collection Development Manager at the Los Angeles Public Library. Followed by a reaction panel which includes an elementary school librarian (Catherine Beyers, Lacrosse, WI), a secondary school librarian (Cassandra Barnett, Fayetteville, AR), and an author/member of AS IF! Authors Support Intellectual Freedom.

Intellectual Freedom: “Who’s View?” Hot Topics
Sunday, June 29
10:30 a.m.-Noon
Hilton-Huntington
Sponsored by ALTA

This program will be presented by a panel with the latest Hot Topics in libraries about intellectual freedom issues.

Ethics in the Age of Web 2.0

Sunday, June 29
1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Disney Adventure Room
Sponsored by AASL Independent School Section

The ALA Code of Ethics for Librarians has served school and youth services librarians for almost 70 years. How has it supported the intellectual freedom of school and public library youthful users? Does it continue to offer us the guidance we need to face the new challenges and new roles we face in a socially networked, rapidly changing digital world? What needs updating? What’s missing? What has aged well? A panel of experts, library educators, and practitioners will discuss ethical issues associated with social technologies, privacy, intellectual property, censorship, access to information, leveling and labeling a collection, and selection.

Speakers:
Helen Adams, Retired

Debbie Abilock, Consultant/Co-Founder, Noodle-Tools, Inc.
Terry Young, Librarian, West Jefferson High School
Rebecca Butler, Associate
Professor, Northern Illinois University
Candace Morgan, brief history of COE, review current Code of Ethics
Cassandra Barnett, resisting censorship, access to information
Christine Sherman labeling collections
Frances Jacobson Harris, ethics and Web 2.0
Andrew Medlar, ethics in an urban youth library setting

Nancy Kranich, protecting intellectual property & the Creative Commons

Is There a Right to Information Literacy? Academy Responsibility in the Information Age
Sunday, June 29
4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Salon F, Anaheim Marriott
Sponsored by ACRL Committee on Ethics and ACRL Instructional Section
Track: User Services; Literacy and Learning

Various institutions have discussed the relationship between economic development and information literacy, and the role of information literacy in society. What is the duty of academia to ensure that college graduates are information literate? Are postsecondary educational values violated when these skills are not provided to students? This program explores professional and ethical considerations regarding IL and ways of empowering librarians as we foster change. Speakers will help define the critical issues related to academic responsibility.

Speakers: Lorie Roth, Assistant Vice-Chancellor, Academic Affairs, California State University; Stephanie Sterling Brasley, Manager, Information Literacy Initiatives, California State University; Penny Beile, University Librarian, University of Central Florida

Tags: Midwinter Meeting/Annual Conference by Nanette Perez
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For those attending this month’s ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, we hope you’ll be able to attend some or all of these exciting programs!

IF 101
Friday, June 27
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

304 A/B, Anaheim Convention Center

Perfect for new ALA members, new conference attendees, and new Intellectual Freedom fanatics, this session – part of ALA’s “Conference 101″ series of programs – will discuss the history and ongoing work of OIF, IFC, IFRT, FTRF, the Merritt Fund, and more! Curious to know what those acronyms mean? Want to get more involved in this critical aspect of librarianship? This is the session for you!

Freedom of Expression®: Resistance and Repression in the Age of Intellectual Property
Saturday, June 28
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

304 A/B, Anaheim Convention Center
Sponsored by the Intellectual Freedom Round Table and the Intellectual Freedom Committee

This screening of Freedom of Expression®: Resistance and Repression in the Age of Intellectual Property will be followed by a panel discussion about fair use and free speech with co-producers Kembrew McLeod and Jeremy Smith, and others. Based on McLeod’s award-winning book of the same title, Freedom of Expression® explores the battles being waged in courts, classrooms, museums, film studios, and the Internet over control of our cultural commons.

Politics of Differences: Cultural Sensitivities and Global Ethics for Libraries and Librarians

Saturday, June 28
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
204A Anaheim Convention Center
Sponsored by the Committee on Professional Ethics

How can we build a global ethical framework for the library and
information profession based a common ground of values while also respecting the diversity of historically and culturally based ethical values that provide the foundation for library and information services throughout the world? Dr. Nancy P. Zimmerman, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, The Graduate School, University of South Carolina will discuss the importance of ethics education, particularly to prepare librarians for global citizenship, awareness of the librarian’s role in the dissemination and preservation of cultures, and administration of global information justice; Dr. Sergio Chaparro, Assistant Professor, Simmons Graduate School of Library and Information Science and originally from Peru will discuss teaching globalization in library school, the Simmons College experience; and Dr. Johannes Britz, Professor and Dean, School of Information Studies University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and originally from South Africa will discuss open access/open source and libraries as a matter of social justice with an emphasis on developing countries.

Privacy: Is it Time for a Revolution?

Sunday, June 29
1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
201D, Anaheim Convention Center

Protecting reader privacy and confidentiality has long been an integral part of the mission of ALA and its members. Should it continue to be a priority? In an age when people increasingly use social networking to expose intimate life details, does privacy still matter to information seekers? Does anyone care if their library records and online searches are being tracked? If they don’t, why should they? A panel of thought leaders from the information economy including author Cory Doctorow, Wired senior writer Dan Roth, and Privacy Rights Clearinghouse director Beth Givens will debate the importance of privacy and what’s at stake if the persistent erosion of privacy continues unchecked. Join us for a provocative examination of a librarian’s role in the future of privacy.

IFC/FTRF Issues Briefing Session
Sunday, June 29

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
201 D, Anaheim Convention Center
Sponsored by the Intellectual Freedom Committee and the Freedom to Read Foundation

The Intellectual Freedom Committee and Freedom to Read Foundation present this public meeting to update members on the status of IFC and FTRF activities, including updates on litigation in which the Freedom to Read Foundation is involved. Don’t miss this opportunity to get up-to-date details on the intellectual freedom work of the library community.

The briefing session will be followed by the FTRF Member Reception, from 4:30-6:00 p.m. next door in room 201 C. All FTRF members are invited to attend. Refreshments will be provided. To join the Freedom to Read Foundation, visit the FTRF website; you also can join at the door.

This Is Your Brain on DOPA
Monday, June 30
10:30 p.m. – Noon
304 A/B, Anaheim Convention Center
Sponsored by the Intellectual Freedom Committee and the Committee on Legislation

As social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook, and Second Life have exploded in popularity, efforts to restrict access to them have accelerated. Federal legislation, such as the Deleting Online Predators Act, would deny federal funds to libraries that allow minors to access social networking sites. Many states have considered similar legislation and state attorneys general have been particularly active on this issue. Even some libraries have attempted to restrict access to these sites.

Join us as our panel of experts discusses the legislation in question; academic research into minors, social networking sites, and online predators; and practical issues faced by librarians and library users.

Speakers include John Morris, General Counsel for the Center for Democracy and Technology; Dr. Michele Ybarra, President of Internet Solutions for Kids; and Linda Braun, Project Management and Consulting Coordinator for LEO: Librarians & Educators Online. Moderated by Kent Oliver, IFC Chair.

The Biggest Threat to Free Speech You May Never Have Heard Of!

Monday, June 30
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
204 A, Anaheim Convention Center
Sponsored by the Intellectual Freedom Committee and the Association of American Publishers

“Libel tourism” may not be a household phrase, but it may well represent one of the most serious threats we face as Americans to our First Amendment right to free expression and the free exchange of ideas. “Libel tourists” use their vast financial resources to bring libel lawsuits in foreign courts in order to intimidate and silence U.S. authors and publishers. Come and hear Dr. Rachel Ehrenfeld, who was sued in England by a Saudi billionaire who didn’t like what she wrote, and First Amendment lawyer Jonathan Bloom, who will discuss the broad free-speech implications of “libel tourism.”

Merritt Fund “Reception for a Cause”

Monday, June 30
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Vice Presidential Suite, 19th Floor, Anaheim Marriott

ALA President-Elect Jim Rettig and the Trustees of the Merritt Fund invite you to the Merritt Fund’s annual “Reception for a Cause,” in support of the work of the Fund. Suggested donation is $25. To RSVP, email merrittfund@ala.org or call Jonathan Kelley at (800) 545-2433 x4221. To donate to the Merritt Fund, visit the online donation form.

Tags: Midwinter Meeting/Annual Conference by Jonathan Kelley
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Trina Magi is the former chair of the Vermont Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee, and a current member of ALA’s Intellectual Freedom Committee

This spring the Vermont Library Association and the Vermont School Library Association succeeded in getting a new state law enacted to protect the confidentiality of library patrons. Previously, Vermont offered protection of library circulation records only through an exception to the open records law.

The new law, “An Act Relating to the Confidentiality of Library Patron Records,” covers all types of libraries (public, academic, school, archives, and others open to the public) and affirmatively declares library patron registration and transaction records confidential. It prohibits sharing those records except 1) with the written permission of the library patron, 2) to library officers, employees, volunteers, and agents as necessary for library administration, 3) in response to an authorized judicial order or warrant, and 4) to custodial parents or guardians of a student in accordance with the federal law Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) by the library at the school the student attends.

The law also allows any library to release information to custodial parents and guardians of patrons under age 16, a compromise provision written into the bill by a Senate committee after hearing testimony from parents, some of whom wanted the law to protect the confidentiality of all minors, and others of whom wanted full parental access to records of their children under 18.

The Vermont Library Association initiated work on this legislation more than a year ago to address widespread and longstanding confusion in the state about library records. While the state’s open records law said that library records were not public documents, it fell short of explicitly saying that they were confidential. This led to various and conflicting interpretations by state officials, law enforcement officers, librarians, and others. A 2006 survey of directors of public and academic libraries in Vermont found that they received at least 1,200 requests for patron information in the year before the survey. With the new law in place, librarians and library patrons across Vermont have greater assurance that their reading habits and research interests are private matters that they alone can decide to share with others.

Check out VLA’s blog post on this great achievement!

Tags: Privacy by Jonathan Kelley
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