The American Library Association invites members to review and comment on the draft statement "Liberty and the Library," developed by the Intellectual Freedom Committee. This statement is intended to strengthen ALA's advocacy for intellectual freedom during a time of unprecedented legal and political challenges for libraries.
Member feedback is vital to ensure the statement reflects the values and experiences of the library community. You may comment on its clarity, usefulness, alignment with ALA principles, or any aspect that will help guide the profession in this moment.
A new statement is needed because today's censorship efforts are broader, more coordinated, and increasingly driven by government actors. Recent court decisions have also weakened long‑standing First Amendment protections. While The Freedom to Read and Libraries: An American Value remain foundational, they do not fully address these new realities or the need to frame library work in terms of liberty, not only access.
"Liberty and the Library" fills this gap by grounding the Freedom to Read in the broader American principle of liberty and reinforcing why libraries are essential to a free society. It is designed to supplement, not replace, existing ALA statements.
Please complete the feedback form by Thursday, May 28.
Emily Bergman
EMIERT Councilor
emilyannebergman@gmail.com
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