Intellectual FreedomThe Intellectual Freedom committee is responsible for maintaining an awareness of intellectual freedom among library staff and trustees. In addition, awareness of the meaning of intellectual freedom should be fostered among local officials and citizens of Rhode Island. The committee should plan and coordinate one program for the Annual Conference. RILA Statement on Intellectual FreedomThe freedom to choose what to read is a fundamental right of all Americans protected by the United States Constitution. Public and school libraries are shared resources that supply their respective communities with information and entertainment without cost or judgment. Libraries collect and distribute materials that enrich the lives of library patrons in ways too numerous to count. Libraries across the nation face increasing pressure to restrict the types of materials that library users have access to in schools or at their public libraries. The Rhode Island Library Association stands behind Rhode Island public and school libraries as they continue to uphold their users’ intellectual freedom rights. We champion and defend the freedom to speak, the freedom to publish, and the freedom to read, as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The Rhode Island Library Association endorses the American Library Association’s (ALA) position on intellectual freedom as outlined in the ALA Library Bill of Rights and its associated interpretations, the Freedom to Read Statement, and the Freedom to View Statement. Questions about RILA’s position on this and related issues may be directed to communications@rilibraries.org. Past IFC ProgrammingFreedom to Read: Challenges to Intellectual Freedom Then and NowIn this panel discussion recorded live on October 4, 2023 at the Cranston Public Library, we examined the historical context of intellectual freedom and presented the importance of protecting and advocating for public institutions that enable a free and pluralistic society. You can view the presentation on YouTube or listen to the audio as a podcast episode. This panel discussion and audience Q&A was moderated by Tayla Cardillo, chair of the RILA Intellectual Freedom Committee, and featured opening remarks from Cranston Public Library trustee Michael Goldberg. Panelists included: Brigitte Hopkins and Bill Lancellotta from the Westerly Library; Steven Brown, Executive Director of the Rhode Island ACLU; and Michael Bryant, Professor of History and Legal Studies at Bryant University. The Importance of Policies: Promoting Our Principles in PracticeIn this presentation recorded on September 21, 2022, Martin Garnar discusses current concerns about library resources and services and learn about best practices for library policies that support us in promoting intellectual freedom and social justice. Martin Garnar, PhD, is the director of the Amherst College Library and the editor of the 10th edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual. His professional activities and speaking schedule reflect a profound inability to say no. A native New Yorker, Martin lives in western Massachusetts with his husband Mark and their impossibly cute miniature dachshunds. | Are you experiencing a materials challenge or other attempt at censorship at your library, school, or other institution in Rhode Island? Submit a report to the RILA Intellectual Freedom Committee and let us know how we can support you: Public ResourcesShare the following list of resources to inform your public about how to respond to book challenges: Professional ResourcesThe list below provides just a sample of resources available to library workers and community members in addressing challenges to library materials: Challenge Preparation and Response Toolkit A toolkit for librarians. Login to your RILA account to view. |