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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.  SC Department of Education ends 50 year partnership with the SC Association of School Librarians (SCASL)

    Posted Sep 05, 2023 05:28 PM

    Dear Colleagues,

    I thought this article would be an interest to both the SRRT and IFRT members.

    The State Education Superintendent Ellen Weaver in South Carolina recently sent a letter to the President of the South Carolina Association of School Librarians (SCASL), notifying her the "SC Department of Education will formally discontinue any partnerships with SCASL as an organization, effectively immediately."

    SC Dept. of Education drops SC Association of School Librarians | wltx.com

    The letter outlines the history of South Carolina's commitment to supporting school libraries from the early 1900s to the present and the longstanding priority of "all educators and especially librarians ... to foster strong cooperative relationships with parents ..."

    Her concern is that librarians and teachers are not taking the questions, concerns, or even challenges of materials by parents seriously. Further, she states, "... a number SCASL's recent communications via its website (such as the American Library Association's Advocacy Toolkit), in testimony regarding library "censorship" before members of the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Taskforce, and ... a letter sent to local school board members undermine that vital objective.

    The Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver's public letter dissolving the partnership: ed.sc.gov/newsroom/scasl-letter/

    There seems to be a disturbing trend of States withdrawing partnerships or institutional support from our national and state library associations. 



    ------------------------------
    Derek Wilmott
    rdwilmott@gmail.com
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  • 2.  RE: SC Department of Education ends 50 year partnership with the SC Association of School Librarians (SCASL)

    Posted Sep 05, 2023 09:49 PM
    I'm a SC public school librarian and the Intellectual Freedom Chair for the SCASL. 
    It's been a challenging weekend, but we're finding a way to move forward. Librarians from across the country and advocacy groups have been very supportive.  Fortunately,  the SCASL has incredible, clear-headed, even tempered leaders, and they are steering us in the right direction.

    Thank you for your support and for sharing our experience.

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  • 3.  RE: SC Department of Education ends 50 year partnership with the SC Association of School Librarians (SCASL)

    Posted Sep 06, 2023 07:12 AM
    Good morning, everyone,
    I am serving as the SCASL President-Elect this year. Here is the letter our board sent to Ellen Weaver's office. We will be following up by contacting her office to hopefully set up a meeting. We have been circulating some social media posts asking supportive parents to join our organization ($15 membership), contact their legislators and the SCDOE, and send appreciative letters of support to their school librarians and administrators. Ellen Weaver frequently attends Moms 4 Liberty events, and so we are hopeful to ride through this wave of politics.




    Original Message