IFRT Members Community (Open)

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The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) provides a forum for the discussion of activities, programs, and problems in intellectual freedom of libraries and librarians.

The IFRT Members Community group is the central hub for discussion, library and events. It is visible to all ALA members but only IFRT members can participate in the conversation.

  • 1.  Letter of Concern re. IFRT & Labeling/Rating Systems (Please sign)

    Posted 20 days ago
      |   view attached
    Dear Colleagues:

    Attached, please find a Letter of Concern about libraries and librarians that support labeling/rating systems. It is a continuation of a debate that started in December on ALA Connect.  This letter is addressed to the IFRT Executive Committee and Membership.  It was placed on the agenda of the March 10 Executive Committee meeting based on the request of the signatories.  However, it was removed from the agenda by the IFRT chair-elect at the beginning of the meeting, based on the claim that she needed time for other business.  

    If you would like to sign this letter,  please contact me at fafarysecond@yahoo.com

    Frieda Afary
    IFRT Director-at-Large
    Public Librarian,  Los Angeles

    Attachment(s)

    pdf
    Letter of Concern re. IFRT & Rating Systems .pdf   102 KB 1 version


  • 2.  RE: Letter of Concern re. IFRT & Labeling/Rating Systems (Please sign)

    Posted 19 days ago

    I wanted to follow up briefly regarding the Letter of Concern agenda item's removal from the March 2026 IFRT Executive Committee Agenda.

     

    To provide some context: IFRT Executive Committee voted at the January 2026 meeting to create a task force to "develop a resolution reaffirming ALA's commitment to intellectual freedom regarding labeling and rating systems to be presented to Council at ALA Annual".

     

    At the March meeting, an item was added to the agenda as new business an action item that consisted of an open a draft letter reiterating claims already addressed by the IFRT Executive Committee for multiple meetings.

     

    After reviewing all of the comments (thank you so much for your engagement!) on the sunset and replace items scheduled for this March IFRT Executive Committee Meeting, I realized that my initial time estimate was extremely low and knew that we would need more time to get through the motions. As I do not feel that rehashing topics is a productive use of the Executive Committee's limited time together and would not have voted in favor of an agenda that included the new business:  I moved to amend the agenda to more accurately reflect the business of the committee. This change was made by a motion to amend the agenda which was voted on by the full board and approved.

     

    @Frieda Afary if you'd like to have a meeting to discuss with me, I'm happy to do so!



    ------------------------------
    Steph Barnaby
    IDEAS Librarian | Northeastern University Library
    s.barnaby@northeastern.edu
    She/Her/Hers
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Letter of Concern re. IFRT & Labeling/Rating Systems (Please sign)

    Posted 18 days ago
    Edited by Judi Moreillon 18 days ago
      |   view attached

    Thank you to the IFRT members who signed the "Letter of Concern RE: Libraries and Librarians Supporting Labeling / Rating Systems" (attached). The signatories' names are listed below.

    It seems that the Letter of Concern helped the IFRT Executive Committee follow through with its January, 2026 motion to write and submit an ALA Resolution on this topic.

    It is important for the Round Table leadership to listen to its members' concerns.

    Sincerely,
    Judi Moreillon

    Frieda Afary, IFRT Director-at-Large, Public Librarian and Author, Los Angeles, CA

    Judi Moreillon, MLS, PhD, IFRT Membership Committee, Literacies and Libraries Author/Editor/Consultant, Tucson, Arizona

    Andrew Evans, ALA Member and School Librarian, Kansas City, Kansas

    Melinda Borie, Collection Development Leader at the New Albany-Floyd County Library, Indiana

    Samantha Ingerson, Technology Librarian, Orion Township Public Library, Michigan.

    Matthew Noe, Lead Collection & Knowledge Management Librarian, Harvard Medical School; Treasurer, Worcester Public Library Board of Directors; Part-Time Instructor, University of Kentucky.


    Witt Salley, Ed.D., M.L.I.S., Public Librarian, Adjunct Professor, IFRT Member


    Andrea Jamison, MAT, MLIS, PhD


    Erin Heyl, Youth Community Librarian Deschutes Public Library, Oregon


    Betsey Ashley, Community Librarian


    Randy Ebert, Public Service Manager, the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County; Ohio Library Council Intellectual Freedom Committee Past Chair; Youngstown, OH


    Kathy Lester, Adjunct Faculty Wayne State University, AASL Past-President, Law 4 Librarians Trainer



    ------------------------------
    Judi Moreillon, M.L.S., Ph.D.
    Literacies and Libraries Author and Consultant
    She/Her/Hers
    info@storytrail.com
    http://storytrail.com
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Letter of Concern re. IFRT & Labeling/Rating Systems (Please sign)

    Posted 18 days ago

    Dear IFRT Colleagues,

    Thank you to everyone who has reached out. I truly appreciate your kindness, patience, and understanding.

    I also want to offer a sincere apology to IFRT. After introducing the resolution and encouraging the task force to move forward, I regret that I had to step back almost immediately. I did not want my absence to suggest a lack of commitment to the work or to the task force.

    Unfortunately, several unexpected personal circumstances required my full attention. My husband has undergone a series of unplanned surgeries and hospital stays due to illness. During this same time, I also experienced the loss of a student and a tragic death in my family.

    Thank you for bearing with me during this difficult period. Your understanding has meant a great deal. I hope to be back at full capacity soon and look forward to moving ahead together.


    Amanda Jones
    Librarianjones.com
    Bluesky: @librarianjones.com



    Original Message