• Intellectual Freedom In Libraries
• Policy and Procedure Statement
• Challenge Database Form

Intellectual Freedom In Libraries

A Statement of Policy Adopted by the California Library Association

1. Preamble

   The following statement of policy was developed by the Intellectual Freedom Committee of the California Library Association. This professional association is directly concerned with the freedom and right to privacy of all members of a democratic society to use what materials they will in the course of making the social, educational, and political judgments on which that society is based. Without such freedom, the very fabric of democracy is in danger. Libraries are one of the chief bastions against the pressures toward conformity which are influencing the media of communication. Only in libraries can the interested student easily find a record of the past, and only in libraries can the interested citizen hope to find all the relevant facts concerning current controversial issues. It is a professional obligation of librarians to give highest priority to the freedom of inquiry and to observe the charges in the Library Bill of Rights and the ALA Freedom to Read statement with the utmost integrity .

2. Authority

   The California Library Association hereby empowers the Intellectual Freedom Committee to act in its behalf in all areas of concern described below. These areas of concern constitute continuing responsibilities of the Committee, until this Statement of Policy is amended or revoked.

3. Areas of Concern

   1. The Association is concerned with proposed legislation at the federal, state, and local levels which might place library collections in jeopardy, restrict, prejudice, or interfere with free and unbiased selection and acquisition of library materials, and other professional activities of librarians - or which might otherwise restrict the basic concept of the freedom of inquiry.

      The Association is also concerned with legislation at the state, local, and school district levels which tends to strengthen the position of libraries and other agencies and disseminators of knowledge and the printed word in a free society. It will support legislation which positively reinforces the concepts of the freedom to read, and the library's role in such freedom.

      The Committee will act on legislation in conformity with the HANDBOOK FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION of the California Library Association.

   2. The Association is concerned with proposed or actual restrictions imposed by individuals, voluntary committees, or administrative authorities on library materials or on the selection judgments, order procedures, or administrative practices of librarians.

      The Association is also concerned with similar restrictions on cultural activities and educational programs in libraries and other institutions.

      The Committee is instructed, at will, or on request of either party to a controversy, a) to determine the facts; b) to develop a statement of the Association's position in relation to this statement of policy; c) after approval of Executive Board to present the Association's position to all interested parties, including the press, when, in the judgment of the Committee, this seems wise or necessary.

   3. The Association is concerned with effecting liaison between itself and other groups and organizations who support the concept of Freedom to Read.

      The Committee is instructed to advise these organizations of the Association's position, to request relevant support from them, and to offer the Association's support for their programs in this area .

   4. The Association is concerned with the continuing education of librarians and the general public in understanding and fully accepting the philosophy inherent in the Library Bill of Rights and the ALA Freedom to Read statement.

      The Committee is instructed to develop an educational program for librarians, library trustees, and for the general public on the freedom of communication and inquiry.

   5. The Association is concerned with the library user's right to privacy, and maintains, as a vital principle, that official or unofficial surveillance, without due process, of library lending or circulation records represents on inadmissible inhibition of intellectual freedom and the traditional right of free inquiry.

      The Committee is instructed to advise librarians, administrators and governing bodies of libraries, and all other interested parties including government agencies and the press, of the Association's position, and to offer the Association's support to any library involved in resisting unjustified attempts to examine its records .

California Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee

Policy and Procedure Statement

Goal: The right to know and to be informed is inherent in our society. It is the goal of the California Library Association to preserve this right by promoting and defending free and equal access to ideas and information.

The California Library Association empowers the Intellectual Freedom Committee to implement this goal. Accordingly, the Intellectual Freedom Committee will:

1. oppose censorship, and all other barriers, limits, or hindrances to ideas and information.

2. defend the right to privacy of the library user.

3. create, in librarians and the public, an awareness of the issues of intellectual freedom.

4. encourage all libraries to provide access to the broadest coverage of ideas and opinions.

Action Statement

1. Educational program.

   • The IFC alerts and informs library staffs and the general public regarding their right to know and to be informed through activities such as exhibits, programs at the CLA Annual Conference and/ or other meetings, regular dissemination of information to the media, speakers provided on request, a special week devoted to intellectual freedom issues; forums; regular reporting in California Libraries.

   • IFC encourages library schools in California to include intellectual freedom principles as an integral part of their curricula.

2. Intellectual freedom controversies.

   • The IFC solicits information on the dangers to intellectual freedom and incidents of proposed or actual restrictions to free access to ideas and information, as well as restrictions on the use of libraries for cultural, community, and educational programs.

   • The IFC investigates any intellectual freedom controversy. The IFC develops positions in relation to incidents and submits them to CLA for adoption.

   • The IFC takes necessary action, such as: attending and speaking at meetings, writing letters, and referring to appropriate agencies for further help.

3. Confidentiality of library records.

   The IFC advises librarians, administrators, and governing bodies of libraries, the press, and all other interested parties, of this position and offers the Committee's support to any library involved in resisting attempts to examine its records, by publicizing such attempts and soliciting other organizations for supportive action.

4. Freedom of information.

   The IFC cooperates with organizations which are committed to the free flow of information and to equal and free access to ideas.

5. Legislation.

   • The IFC is concerned with legislation on the federal, state and local levels. It supports and may initiate, through CLA channels, legislation which would increase the ability of individuals, libraries, and other agencies to make available information of all kinds in many forms. It will oppose legislation which would restrict in any way freedom of inquiry or the dissemination of information.

   • The IFC advises the Government Relations Committee on legislation relating to intellectual freedom. The chairperson of the IFC will serve as an ex officio member of the Government Relations Committee.

   • The IFC reports to CLA Assembly on its activities and suggests appropriate legislative action.

ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom Challenge Database Form

PLEASE NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IS FOR STATISTICAL USE ONLY AND WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL

Feel free to attach news clippings or other supporting material. Return to:

California Library Association
Intellectual Freedom Committee
717 K Street, Suite 300
Sacramento, CA 95814-3477.

They will tabulate the information and send the form on to the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom.

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Last Modified: Friday, October 29, 1999

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