OIF Blog

OIF has four new videos up featuring programs from the 2009 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.  Check them out!

“My, those novels certainly are… graphic!”

One of the most popular intellectual freedom programs in years, this panel discussion was sponsored by the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee, Association of American Publishers, and Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.  Speakers: Neil Gaiman, Terry Moore, and Craig Thompson. Moderated by Charles Brownstein of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

“Privacy in an Era of Change”

An engrossing conversation about the status of privacy under the new administration.  Cosponsored by the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee and the ALA Washington Office.  Speakers: Mary Ellen Callahan, Chief Privacy Officer for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; David Sobel, Senior Counsel at the Electronic Frontier Foundation; and Craig Wacker, program officer for the MacArthur Foundation’s Digital Media & Learning initiative.

“Libraries, Librarians, and America’s War on Sex”

Sex ed advocate Marty Klein discusses the importance of having sexual information available to all library users.  Sponsored by the Intellectual Freedom Round Table.

“Intellectual Freedom on the Front Lines”

Librarians and library supporters from West Bend, Wisconsin share their perspective on the protracted censorship challenges going on in their community at this issues briefing session, sponsored by the Intellectual Freedom Committee and the Freedom to Read Foundation.  (See a blog post on the session from American Libraries’ Inside Scoop here.)

Tags: Censorship, Intellectual Freedom Committee, Intellectual Freedom Round Table, Midwinter Meeting/Annual Conference, Privacy, Special Events, Uncategorized // Add Comment »

The American Library Association, the McCormick Freedom Museum, and the Newberry Library invite you to join us along with ALA President Camila Alire and frequently challenged author Chris Crutcher, in a FREE event to celebrate your freedom to read! The Banned Books Week Read-Out! will take place Saturday, September 26, from noon to 2:00 PM in historic Bughouse Square, located at 901 N Clark St., in Chicago, IL.

The event features authors from the top ten most frequently challenged books of 2008, who will talk about their experiences as targets of censors and will also read from their works. Authors scheduled to appear are Sarah Brannen, author of Uncle Bobby’s Wedding; Cecily von Ziegesar, author of the Gossip Girl series; Stephen Chbosky, author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower; Lauren Myracle, author of ttyl, ttfn, and l8r g8r (internet girl series); and Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, co-authors of And Tango Makes Three. The CityLit Theatre Company and the Chicago Public Library’s Teen Volume Reader’s Theatre Troupe will perform dramatic readings of some of these works.

Immediately following the program, we will host a book signing and an open mic (2:00 pm to 3:00 pm). The authors and their publishers have graciously donated 100 copies of their works to give away to attendees. Musician Matt Ryd will kick-off the open mic portion of the event with censored music. If you would like to participate in the open mic portion of the event, please contact Jen Hammond at jhammond@ala.org for more information.

For more information about Banned Books Week, please visit www.ala.org/bbooks. We hope to see you at the Read-Out!

Tags: Banned Books Week, Censorship, Special Events // Add Comment »

(Cross-posted from PrivacyRevolution.org)

Universal online access to search the full text of all the world’s books — it’s a vision that speaks to the heart of libraries’ mission to connect people with ideas. The Google Books Library Project has a noble goal — “to work with publishers and libraries to create a comprehensive, searchable, virtual card catalog of all books in all languages that helps users discover new books and publishers discover new readers.”

What could go wrong?

Plenty, as it turns out.

Google was sued by a group of publishers and authors to address copyright and other intellectual property issues, and the resulting proposed legal agreement — the Google Books Settlement — outlines the terms under which Google will be able to provide access to the 7 million books it has already scanned, and the millions more it will make available in the future. For more information on the settlement, including wonderful summaries that help simplify this very complex document, see the GBS page created by ALA’s Washington Office.

One of the most significant issues with the Google Books project is reader privacy, which is not addressed in the settlement. In a library, readers can browse anonymously and the privacy of library records is protected by state confidentiality laws, library policies, and the shared ethical framework of librarians. How will Google protect reader privacy?

In response to concerns from the library community, privacy activists, and others, Google has released a privacy policy specific to its Google Books service, which addresses many of the issues that have been raised. It’s a great start, but does it go far enough in ensuring that readers’ First Amendment rights aren’t chilled by the potential for monitoring and surveillance?

The Google Books Settlement impacts the rights of publishers, booksellers, libraries, authors, Google itself, and — most significantly, yet perhaps least considered — the rights of consumers and readers of digital books. Libraries and privacy advocates will continue to follow this situation and to fight for the privacy rights of all readers.

Tags: Privacy // Add Comment »

Have you ever wondered where challenges to books in the United States actually occur? A new book censorship map featured on the BannedBooksWeek.org site illustrates that censorship efforts take place all across the country. The Google map displays more than 120 book challenges—from Maine to Florida and from Long Island, New York, to San Francisco, California—that have occurred since the beginning of 2007. These challenges represent a small portion of those recorded, and have been culled from cases documented by the Kids’ Right to Read Project, which is sponsored by the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression and the National Coalition Against Censorship, and the American Library Association’s “Books Challenged or Banned in 2007-2008″ (pdf) list, by Robert P. Doyle.

ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom provides confidential support to teachers and librarians and tracks challenges that occur. ALA recorded 513 challenges in 2008 but estimates that this reflects only 20-25% of actual incidents, as most challenges are never reported.

For assistance with challenges to library materials, services, or programs, please contact Angela Maycock, Assistant Director, Office for Intellectual Freedom, 800-545-2433, ext. 4221, or the Office for Intellectual Freedom, 800-545-2433, ext. 4223 or visit the Challenges to Library Materials page on the ALA Web site.

Banned Books Week 2009 runs from September 26-October 3.

Tags: Banned Books Week, Censorship // Add Comment »

In preparation of the 8th Edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual, the Intellectual Freedom Committee revised several Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights, which were adopted as amended by the ALA Council. The Committee also proposed three new interpretations to the Library Bill of Rights: “Importance of Education to Intellectual Freedom,” “Minors and Internet Interactivity,” and “Services to Persons with Disabilities.” “Services to Persons with Disabilities” was adopted by ALA Council during the 2009 Midwinter Meeting in Denver, CO. “Importance of Education to Intellectual Freedom” and “Minors and Internet Interactivity” were adopted by the ALA Council during the 2009 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, IL.

All the revised and new Interpretations will be available in the 8th Edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual. Publication of the Manual is scheduled to coincide with the 2010 ALA Annual Conference in Washington, DC. They are also available on our Web page, Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights.

Tags: Intellectual Freedom Committee, Intellectual Freedom Issues // Add Comment »

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:

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 // Add Comment »

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 // Add Comment »

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 // Add Comment »

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 // Add Comment »

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 // Add Comment »