Table Of ContentAll materials in this journal subject to copyright by the American Library Association
may be used for the noncommercial purpose of scientific or educational advancement
granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. Address
usage requests to the ALA Office of Rights and Permissions.
FEATURE
Newly Revised
Intellectual
Freedom Manual
Makes It Easier
to Find the Help
You Need
Trina Magi
[email protected]
32 Knowledge Quest | Intellectual Freedom
All materials in this journal subject to copyright by the American Library Association
may be used for the noncommercial purpose of scientific or educational advancement
granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. Address
usage requests to the ALA Office of Rights and Permissions.
School librarians regularly face
difficult intellectual freedom
questions. What should you do
if a parent complains about a
library book? Is it a good idea to
put grade- or reading-level labels
on the outside of books or use
labels to determine what students
should read? Do children have
First Amendment rights? The ALA
Intellectual Freedom Manual provides
answers and guidance.
The Intellectual Freedom Manual has been
an essential resource for decades.
Over time, it grew considerably
in size and scope, containing
official ALA policy statements on
intellectual freedom and essays
about the history of those statements.
Based on feedback from librarians,
the ninth edition has been revised
and reorganized. The new topical
arrangement makes it easier for
busy librarians to find help quickly.
Also, the historical essays were
removed and published in a separate
companion volume, A History of ALA
Policy on Intellectual Freedom: A Supplement
to the Intellectual Freedom Manual, making
space in the manual for new content,
including significantly more content
for school librarians.
The Intellectual Freedom
Manual has been an essential
resource for decades… The new topical
arrangement makes it easier for busy
librarians to find help quickly.
What’s Included
The book includes official ALA
policy statements on intellectual
freedom, including core
documents such as the Library Bill
Volume 44, No. 1 | September/October 2015 33
All materials in this journal subject to copyright by the American Library Association
may be used for the noncommercial purpose of scientific or educational advancement
granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. Address
usage requests to the ALA Office of Rights and Permissions.
The library profession has a long history of defending and
promoting freedom of expression and the freedom to read.
School librarians and their supporters will find this new edition
of the Intellectual Freedom Manual a valuable and
easy-to-use resource as they continue this important work.
of Rights, The Freedom to Read, • An essay about intellectual freedom
and Code of Ethics of the American and young people, written by a
The manual is published Library Association; interpretations retired school librarian with a
under the direction of of those documents; and ALA wealth of experience
the American Library Council resolutions. Developed
• An essay about labeling and rating
Association’s Office for by ALA members and ratified by
systems, which are becoming more
Intellectual Freedom. the ALA Council through the
prevalent in school libraries
Additional information association’s democratic process,
about intellectual freedom these policies articulate the library • Expanded content about
issues—and newly adopted profession’s values and best practices. Internet filtering, and advice
about how you can work to
and revised ALA policies—
can be found on the ALA The book also includes guidelines, protect intellectual freedom
“Intellectual Freedom” checklists, essays, and question-and- even if your school is required to
website <www.ala.org/ answer documents. For example, in install filters
advocacy/intfreedom>. this edition you’ll find: • Expanded content about how to
Also consider joining develop five essential policies to
IFACTION, a news-only, • “Issue at a Glance” pages, protect intellectual freedom in
no-discussion electronic which highlight important your library
list on intellectual freedom points related to each of nine
• Information about copyright,
issues. Go to <lists.ala.org/ intellectual freedom issues,
including a new interpretation
sympa> and click “ALA including points labeled
of ALA’s Code of Ethics and an
Offices” and then “Office “Especially for School Libraries”
essay about the law regarding
for Intellectual Freedom.”
• Practical, step-by-step instructions copyright
for responding to challenges
• Information about responding to
to library resources, from oral
requests from law enforcement
expressions of concern through
formal written complaints and • An expanded “Glossary of Terms”
public hearings, with special advice to help you understand technical
for school librarians and legal terms
34 Knowledge Quest | Intellectual Freedom
All materials in this journal subject to copyright by the American Library Association
may be used for the noncommercial purpose of scientific or educational advancement
granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. Address
usage requests to the ALA Office of Rights and Permissions.
How It’s Arranged reflection. “Issue at a Glance” is • Use it for professional development—
followed by relevant “Official ALA Consider having library staff
The new manual has three parts.
Policy Statements.” Finally, each and volunteers read the chapters
Part 1, “Intellectual Freedom and
chapter includes “A Deeper Look”— in “Intellectual Freedom Issues
Libraries,” provides foundational
one or more essays expanding on the and Best Practices,” and schedule
information. It begins with an essay
issue. Many of the “Deeper Look” time to discuss the provided
that defines intellectual freedom
essays provide information about “Questions for Reflection.”
and explains how it applies to school,
laws related to library operations. Some of the questions are easily
public, and academic libraries. Core
This information will help you answered after reading the
intellectual freedom documents
understand your legal obligations, chapter; others present more
of ALA, such as Library Bill of
but it is not intended as legal difficult ethical challenges that
Rights, are presented next, followed
advice. If legal advice or expert are likely to stimulate interesting
by practical information about
assistance is required, you should discussions.
how to create five library policies
seek the services of a competent legal
that support intellectual freedom: • Use it to connect with other librarians
professional, such as your district’s
collection development and resource and help promote intellectual freedom—
legal counsel.
reconsideration, Internet use, use Read “Where to Get Help and
of meeting rooms and exhibit spaces, Get Involved” to learn about
Part 3, “Advocacy and Assistance,”
privacy and confidentiality, and user organizations, committees,
offers practical information
behavior and library use. programs, and awards that focus
about how to communicate about
on intellectual freedom.
intellectual freedom, work with
Part 2, “Intellectual Freedom Issues
The library profession has a long
the media, lobby legislators,
and Best Practices,” contains nine
history of defending and promoting
get help, and get involved in
chapters focusing on intellectual
freedom of expression and the
promoting and defending
freedom issues:
freedom to read. School librarians
intellectual freedom.
and their supporters will find this
(1) Access to Library Resources and
new edition of the Intellectual Freedom
The appendixes include an
Services
Manual a valuable and easy-to-use
expanded “Glossary of Terms” and
resource as they continue this
“Selected Bibliography.”
(2) Censorship, Challenged
important work.
Resources, and Internet
Filtering How to Use the Manual in
Your School Library
(3) Children and Youth Trina Magi is a library
• Refer to it when developing library policy—
Review the chapter “Creating professor at the University
(4) Collection Development and
Intellectual Freedom Policies for of Vermont in Burlington
Management
Your Library.”
where she works as a
(5) Copyright • Turn to it for guidance when a question reference and instruction
or problem emerges—Consult the
librarian. She is a member of the ALA Digital
(6) Meeting Rooms, Exhibit Spaces, relevant chapter in “Intellectual
Content Working Group. She served as
and Programs Freedom Issues and Best
Practices,” review the tips in editor of the ALA Intellectual Freedom
(7) Privacy and Confidentiality the chapter “Communicating Manual, ninth edition, published April 2015.
about Intellectual Freedom,” and
She has served on the intellectual freedom
(8) Visits and Requests from Law consult “Where to Get Help
committees of the Vermont Library Association
Enforcement and Get Involved” if you need
additional help. (chair 2006–2008), New England Library
(9) Workplace Speech • Use it to orient new library employees, Association (chair 2012–2014), and
volunteers, other educators, administra- American Library Association (2007–2011).
Each chapter begins with a
tors, and board members—Ask them
She has also served as Vermont’s representative
summary called “Issue at a Glance,”
to read “What Is Intellectual
covering key concepts, points of law, on ALA Council and has won numerous
Freedom?” and “Core Intellec-
additional resources, tips for various tual Freedom Documents of the awards for her advocacy of civil liberties and
types of libraries, and questions for
American Library Association.” intellectual freedom.
Volume 44, No. 1 | September/October 2015 35
