Author: Kristin Pekoll

Today, as many in our society celebrates July 4th, ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) reflects on words that have inspired us in the work that we do to preserve the right to read and the right to think for ourselves.

Each of us has chosen a quote, a lyric, a speech, a thought… an idea. We hope they speak to you as they have spoken to us.

 

Jamie LaRue

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” ― Winston Churchill

 

Deborah Caldwell Stone

“Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country. In either event, it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether about the president or anyone else.” ― Theodore Roosevelt

 

Kristin Pekoll

“America is the only country on the planet that since its birth has said over and over and over that we can do better.”

 

Ellie Diaz

 

Yumeka Brown

“Understand, democracy does not require uniformity.  Our founders quarreled and compromised, and expected us to do the same. But they knew that democracy does require a basic sense of solidarity – the idea that for all our outward differences, we are all in this together; that we rise or fall as one.” ― Barack Hussein Obama II (farewell speech)

Celebrate thought, Celebrate freedom – today and everyday.

Jamie, Deborah, Kristin, Ellie and Yumeka

Drag queen Deja Brooks is pictured near the entrance of the Lawrence Public Library. Photo via Lawrence Journal World http://www2.ljworld.com/photos/2017/oct/06/319711/

Defend Pride at Your Library

“Beyond merely avoiding the exclusion of materials representing unorthodox or unpopular ideas, libraries should proactively seek to include an abundance of resources and programming representing the greatest possible diversity of genres, ideas, and expressions. A full commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion requires that library collections and programming reflect the broad range of viewpoints and cultures that exist in our world.”

Kristin Pekoll Censorship, Displays, Diversity, GLBTQ, Library Bill of Rights, Programming
protests

Not Your Grandmother’s Free Speech

By: guest blogger Tara Lane Bowman; Protest placards have come a long way since the days when signs beseeched readers to elect a candidate in an upcoming election. In the past, these signs and slogans were direct. The act of carrying a sign is a First Amendment right that engages any literate bystander. It would be enough to carry a message that states exactly what it is that a protester stands for or against.  However, the Women’s Marches show that modern protests require more than physical presence and traditional signs of dissent.

Kristin Pekoll Civil Liberties, First Amendment, Political Viewpoint
Sam Helmick Twitter

I Support the Freedom to Read and Iowa Libraries!

Call to action from the Iowa Library Association leads to an explosion of #librarylove from librarians, readers and authors. “If you’re a library professional in the state of Iowa, help support library staff in Orange City. Send them your support. Make sure they know you have their back. ILA and ALA are working on this with them. Write letters to the local newspaper. Support via social media as well!” – Dan Chibnall

Kristin Pekoll Advocacy, Censorship, GLBTQ, State Intellectual Freedom Committees