Intellectual Freedom Resources

Intellectual freedom is the right of every individual to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction. It provides for free access to all expressions of ideas through which any and all sides of a question, cause or movement may be explored. Explore core documents, guidelines, publications, toolkits, and Q&As about intellectual freedom and privacy in libraries.

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Core Documents

    • Library Bill of Rights ​
    • Library Bill of Rights
    • Code of Ethics
  • in the ¹Ü¼ÒÆŲÊͼ Policy Manual

eLearning

The hosts and presents in webinars (short for web-based seminar) frequently throughout the year. Presentations are usually transmitted over the web using video conferencing software that features interactive elements and the ability to give, receive and discuss information in real-time. Speakers provide information and resources on a variety of topics including; censorship, banned books, advocacy, privacy, internet filtering and access to resources.

Our webinars are recorded. After the live event, many of the recordings are accessible at the .

Guidelines

Privacy guidelines and checklists can be found on the Privacy and Confidentiality issues page.

  • (Approved by the Intellectual Freedom Committee June 8, 2020)
  • (Updated August 2018)
  • (Updated April 2017)
  • (Adopted by the Intellectual Freedom Committee June 28, 1994; revised January 19, 2005; March 29, 2014; and June 24, 2019)
  • (Adopted by the Intellectual Freedom Committee, January 24, 1993; revised November 17, 2000; January 19, 2005; March 29, 2014; and March 24, 2019)
  • (Created 2017)
  • (Approved by the Intellectual Freedom Committee, June 27, 2006; amended June 24, 2019)
  • (Approved by the Intellectual Freedom Committee in June 2018)

Publications

  • by Kristin Pekoll in 2019
  • , by Robert P. Doyle in 2017
  • by Trina Magi and Martin Garnar in 2021
  • published quarterly
  • published 3-4 times a week by various authors. to the weekly roundup via the Intellectual Freedom News.
  • Banned Books Week (September 26-October 2, 2021) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. This year's theme is "Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us." Sharing stories important to us means sharing a part of ourselves. Books reach across boundaries and build connections between readers. Censorship, on the other hand, creates barriers. Purchases of Banned Books Week materials support the Office for Intellectual Freedom's work in defending and promoting the freedom to read.

Resolutions & Statements

The (¹Ü¼ÒÆŲÊͼIR) is an open access repository, committed to collecting, permanently storing, and providing digital access to the publications and intellectual work of the ¹Ü¼ÒÆŲÊͼ. It is organized into communities reflecting the Divisions, Offices, Committees, and Roundtables that make up ¹Ü¼ÒÆŲÊͼ. The ¹Ü¼ÒÆŲÊͼIR is managed by the . We invite ¹Ü¼ÒÆŲÊͼ staff and members to deposit documents directly into ¹Ü¼ÒÆŲÊͼIR. Intellectual freedom resolutions, statements and other resources older than two years are archived on ¹Ü¼ÒÆŲÊͼIR.

  • (Adopted January 24, 2017, by the ¹Ü¼ÒÆŲÊͼ Council)
  • (Adopted January 24, 2017, by the ¹Ü¼ÒÆŲÊͼ Council)
  • (Adopted February 13, 2018, by the ¹Ü¼ÒÆŲÊͼ Council. Endorsed by the Committee on Legislation, Intellectual Freedom Round Table, Committee on Professional Ethics, American Association of School Librarians, Library Information Technology Association, and IFC Privacy Subcommittee.)

Toolkits

  • (Created by ¹Ü¼ÒÆŲÊͼ Emerging Leaders team and AASL in 2018)
  • (Updated January 2018 by ¹Ü¼ÒÆŲÊͼ Office for Intellectual Freedom)
  • (Created by GLBTRT April 9, 2016)
  • (Revised by the IFC Privacy Subcommittee and approved by the Intellectual Freedom Committee January 2014)

Q&As

  • (Revised by Intellectual Freedom Committee in 2020)
  • Addressing Challenges to Books by Problematic Authors (Adopted January 7, 2022, by the Intellectual Freedom Committee)
  • (Adopted by the Committee on Professional Ethics, June 30, 2014; and amended April 30, 2019)
  • (Adopted January 2009, by the Committee on Professional Ethics; and amended January 28, 2019)
  • (Adopted July 2013, by the Committee on Professional Ethics; and amended January 28, 2019)
  • Intellectual Freedom and Censorship (Created 2007)
  • (Approved by the Intellectual Freedom Committee on April 6, 2006; updated January 16, 2010; and June 24, 2019)
  • (Created 2017)
  • (Approved by the Intellectual Freedom Committee June 24, 2019)
  • (Developed by the Intellectual Freedom Committee's (IFC) Privacy Subcommittee; approved by the IFC April 14, 2005; amended June 26, 2006; October 30, 2006; January 23, 2012; July 1, 2014; and July 29, 2019)
  • (Approved by the Intellectual Freedom Committee on June 2018)
  • (Revised by the Intellectual Freedom Committee on January 26, 2020)
  • (Adopted by the Committee on Professional Ethics, July 2001; Amended January 2004, June 26, 2006, January 24, 2007, July 1, 2014; and amended April 30, 2019)

Assistance and Consultation

The staff of the Office for Intellectual Freedom is available to answer questions or provide assistance to librarians, trustees, educators and the public about intellectual freedom issues and resources. Areas of assistance include policy development, First Amendment issues, and professional ethics. Inquiries can be directed via email to oif@ala.org or via phone at (312) 280-4226.

Updated 2021