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Attend the AASL Law for School Librarians Preconference!

The American Association of School Librarians is presenting an informative and helpful preconference this year at its national conference in Charlotte, North Carolina:

“Law for School Librarians: Knowing Minors’ Rights” (Preconference)
Thursday, November 5, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m., Charlotte, North Carolina
Fee: $109 (AASL member) / $214 (Non-member)

Preconference Summary: Learn how the First Amendment, state and federal laws, and judicial decisions affect the intellectual freedom of students using school library media centers. Topics to be covered include minors’ rights in school libraries, challenges to resources, labeling of resources, filtering Web resources, and privacy. Presenters will differentiate between public and private school libraries in terms of how laws apply, and will discuss the rights of younger versus older minors. Experienced library media specialists will facilitate group discussions and role playing related to challenges and students’ privacy, and will provide strategies for teaching students about their rights and responsibilities.

Presenters:

  • Deborah Caldwell-Stone is acting director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, where she works on projects dealing with censorship and privacy in libraries. An attorney by training, she practiced appellate law before the state and federal courts in Chicago before joining ALA in 2000.
  • Theresa Chmara is an attorney in Washington, DC and has served as counsel to the Freedom to Read Foundation for over fifteen years. She is on the steering committee of the Lawyers for Libraries program and has instructed at each of the twelve Lawyers for Libraries institutes as well as the Law for Librarians conference in 2006.
  • Pat Scales, a retired school librarian, is on the ALA faculty for Lawyers for Libraries, and is the author of Teaching Banned Books: 12 Guides for Young Readers (ALA 2001) and Intellectual Freedom in School Libraries (ALA 2001).  She is currently the president of the Association for Library Service to Children.
  • Barbara Stripling is director of library services for the Department of Education in New York City. She has had a thirty-year career in education as a classroom teacher, K–12 library media specialist, Library Power director, and school district director of instructional services.
  • Dorcas Hand has been an independent school librarian in Houston, Texas since 1978, working at a variety of schools at all levels K–12 and surviving more than one challenge in those thirty years.
  • Helen Adams is a former school library media specialist and technology coordinator in Wisconsin and is currently an online instructor for Mansfield University, teaching a course focusing on legal and access issues in school library media programs. She authored Ensuring Intellectual Freedom and Access to Information in the School Library Media Program (Libraries Unlimited 2008) and is co-author of Privacy in the 21st Century: Issues for Public, School, and Academic Libraries (Libraries Unlimited 2005).

    • For more information and to register, please visit the AASL National Conference Web site.

    Tags: Intellectual Freedom Issues, Intellectual Freedom Trainings, Privacy, Special Events, Uncategorized by admin
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    Monday IF activities @ Conference

    Here are some intellectual freedom-related activities happening on Monday, July 13, 2009 at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.  Check out the conference wiki for more:

    8:00 – 10: 00 a.m.

    IFC/FTRF Issues Briefing Session: “Intellectual Freedom on the Front Lines: West Bend Library Supporters Share Their Story”
    McCormick Place West, W-194a

    The West Bend Community Library in West Bend, Wisconsin, faced an onslought of challenges earlier this year — including a lawsuit demanding that Lia Francesca Block’s Baby Be-Bop be publicly burned.  We have invited some of the library’s key supporters to share their insights.

    10:30 a.m.– noon

    IFC/Washington Office program: “Privacy in an Era of Change”
    McCormick Place West, W-474

    We have assembled a panel of thought-leaders on privacy – Mary Ellen Callahan (Department of Homeland Security), Craig Wacker (MacArthur Foundation), and David Sobel (Electronic Frontier Foundation) – to discuss the balance of privacy, security, and civil liberties in today’s digital age.

    1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

    IFC/AAP/CBLDF program: “My, Those Novels Certainly Are … Graphic!”
    McCormick Place West, W-184

    From the Comics Code to recent cases involving obscenity and child pornography charges, graphic novels seems to always be under the censors’ microscope. Neil Gaiman, Terry Moore, and Craig Thompson will discuss the effect of censorship on comics. Moderated by Charles Brownstein, director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.  Cosponsored by the Association of American Publishers and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

    5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

    Merritt Fund “Reception for a Cause”
    Hilton Chicago  (720 S. Michigan Ave.), DuSable Suite #2567

    Please join other supporters of the LeRoy C. Merritt Fund as we celebrate another year of assisting librarians who are facing discrimination or defending intellectual freedom. Appetizers and wine will be served.  $25.00 suggested donation.

    Tags: Censorship, Intellectual Freedom Committee, LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund, Midwinter Meeting/Annual Conference, Privacy, Special Events by Jonathan Kelley
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    Sunday IF activities @ Conference

    Here are some intellectual freedom-related activities happening on Sunday, July 12, 2009 at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.  Check out the conference wiki for more:

    8:00 – 10: 00 a.m.

    IFC/COL
    Hyatt Regency Chicago (on Wacker – not McCormick Place)
    Columbus Hall K/L

    Combined meeting of the Intellectual Freedom Committee and the Committee on Legislation.  All conference attendees are welcome to observe.

    10:30 a.m. – Noon

    RUSA-MARS program
    Sheraton Chicago BR II/III

    “Who Cares About Privacy? Boundaries, Millennials and the MySpace Mindset” –  Join the Privacy Revolution

    Speakers: Siva Vaidhyanathan, Francis Jacobson Harris

    10:30 a.m. – Noon

    LITA program
    McCormick Place West W184

    “Net Neutrality and its Implications for Libraries” – speakers Alan Inouye, Gregory Jackson, Clifford Lynch

    1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

    Committee on Professional Ethics program
    McCormick Place West W185

    “Alice Down the YouTube: Ethical Training in the Online Wonderland” – Have you watched a good video lately? Join us as we view YouTube videos that deal with everyday ethical issues in the library.

    1:30 – 5:30 p.m.

    GLBTRT program
    McCormick Place West W194a

    “What Makes Tango So Scary? Serving Your Whole Library Population, Intellectual Freedom, and Censorship of LGBT Books” – speakers Victor Schill, Jamie LaRue, Nancy Silverrod, Carolyn Caywood

    3:30 – 5:30 p.m.

    ALA President’s Program
    McCormick Place West W184

    Speaker: Tom Blanton, director of the National Security Archive at George Washington University.  “After the 9-11 attacks the federal government’s desire for secrecy grew dramatically.  Blanton will discuss limits imposed on access to government information.”

    Tags: Uncategorized by Jonathan Kelley
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    Speaker change for Monday’s “Privacy in an Era of Change” panel

    There is a change of speakers for Monday’s ALA Annual Conference panel “Privacy in an Era of Change,” sponsored by the Office for Intellectual Freedom and the Washington Office.

    Jeff Jarvis will be unable to join us.  In his place will be Craig Wacker, program office for the Digital Media & Learning initiative of the MacArthur Foundation.  Thanks to Craig for filling in on such short notice!

    The program is 10:30-noon in room W474 of McCormick Place West.  Following will be a tweet-up!

    We hope you’ll be able to join us for what promises to be a terrific panel on an extremely important issue.  Joining Craig will be Mary Ellen Callahan, the Chief Privacy Officer for the Department of Homeland Security, and David Sobel, General Counsel for the Electronic Frontier Foundation.  What has changed about the prospects for privacy – both under a new administration and given all of the changes wrought by technology?  Come to this panel and participate in our discussion!

    For more on ALA’s privacy initiative, visit www.privacyrevolution.org.  And for a listing of other privacy programs happening at ALA Annual, visit http://www.oif.ala.org/oif/?p=393.

    Tags: Midwinter Meeting/Annual Conference, Privacy, Special Events by Jonathan Kelley
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    Saturday IF activities @ Conference

    Here are some intellectual freedom-related activities happening on Saturday, July 11, 2009 at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.  Check out the conference wiki for more:

    8:00 a.m. – Noon

    IFC II
    Hyatt Regency Chicago (on Wacker – not McCormick Place)
    Columbus Hall H

    Second business meeting of this Council committee.  All conference attendees are welcome to observe.

    9:00 a.m.

    Exhibits Open!
    McCormick Place Chicago

    Check out the myriad of books, authors, gizmos, displays, and of course, Carolyn Forsman’s jewelry in booth 3431 (near the ALA Membership Pavilion).  And from 3:00-5:00 p.m., go to the Diversity Fair in the exhibit area to see the Merritt Fund table and a poster session by Conable Scholarship recipient Amanda Sharpe.

    10:30 a.m. – noon

    ALTAFF IFC program
    Hyatt Regency Chicago (on Wacker – not McCormick Place)
    Columbus Hall E/F

    “Change is in the Air: How Intellectual Freedom Affects You in Your LIbrary”

    1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

    IFRT program
    McCormick Place West W-178a

    “Libraries, Librarians, and America’s War on Sex” ft. Dr. Marty Klein

    AASL IFC program
    McCormick Place West W-470a

    “Minors’ Rights in School Library Media Centers”

    RUSA-STARS program
    McCormick Place West W-474

    “The Secret Life of Our Data: Privacy in the Digital Age” – Join the Privacy Revolution

    5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

    Opening General Session
    McCormick Place West W-375

    See Bob Doyle receive the FTRF Roll of Honor Award, keynote speaker and IF advocate Christie Hefner, and Honorary Membership in the American Library Association (the association’s highest honor) posthumously given to Judith Krug.

    Tags: Uncategorized by Jonathan Kelley
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    Friday IF Activites @ Conference

    Here are some intellectual freedom-related activities happening on Friday, July 10, 2009 at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago:

    1:30 – 5:00 p.m.

    IFRT I
    Hyatt Regency Chicago (on Wacker – not McCormick Place)
    Columbus Hall H

    **The first of 2 business meetings of the Intellectual Freedom Round Table, one of the best avenues for ALA members to become involved in the IF activities of the association.**

    5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

    IF 101
    McCormick Place West
    W-194a

    **Part of ALA’s “Conference 101″ series of programs introducing new members & conference attendees to the various units of ALA and the exciting events going on during Conference.  At this one you’ll learn about IFC, FTRF, IFRT, the Merritt Fund, COPE, BBW, and more!**

    6:00 – 7:00

    Judith Krug Memorial
    Hyatt Regency Chicago (on Wacker – not the McCormick one)
    Grand Ballroom A

    **The library world lost a great leader in April with the death of Judith F. Krug.  Since her passing, on April 11th, 2009, the outpouring support – form both within the library community and without – has been immense.  We look forward to coming together in person to honor Judith at this annual conference.  Please join us.**

    Tags: Midwinter Meeting/Annual Conference, Office for Intellectual Freedom, Special Events, Uncategorized by Jonathan Kelley
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    Carolyn Forsman’s Jewelry returns to Annual Conference

    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.

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    Tags: Freedom to Read Foundation, Midwinter Meeting/Annual Conference by Bryan Campbell
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    Intellectual Freedom Programs at Annual: Your Comprehensive List

    We’ve blogged about all of our programs coming up in the next week for ALA Annual here in Chicago. Below the break, find them listed chronologically, with time and room number, and a brief description.

    [Read more →]

    Tags: Uncategorized by Jen Hammond
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    Intellectual Freedom 101, this Friday at ALA Conference

    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
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    My, these novels certainly are . . . . GRAPHIC!!

    Graphic Novels Final

    The ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee, the Association of American Publishers, and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund invite you our program, “My These Novels Certainly Are . . . . GRAPHIC!,” on Monday, July 13, at 1:30 PM, in McCormick Place W-184. This program will address the uniquely complex censorship issues that comic books face, both within and outside of libraries.

    We have gathered together three of the best working comic artists today: Newbery Award winner Neil Gaiman, Strangers in Paradise author Terry Moore, and Eisner Award winner Craig Thompson. The panel will be moderated by Charles Brownstein, Director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Following the program, we will host a signing with the panelists. Stay tuned for more information!

    Tags: Censorship, Intellectual Freedom Committee, Midwinter Meeting/Annual Conference, Special Events by Nanette Perez
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