LHRT (Library History Round Table)

I'm Amanda Sprochi and I'm the LHRT liaison to the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee. This is the November report.

Reduction in ALA workforce: ALA's reduction in workforce eliminated the position of the Director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom, held by Deborah Caldwell Stone. There will no longer be a director of the OIF; Sarah Lamdan will remain as Deputy Director. This also affects the Freedom to Read Foundation, as the OIF Director is also the director of the FTRF. There will supposedly be an OIF, but may be housed under another department.

This move was a surprise to everyone. ALA has made no further statement and questions to ALA from OIF have not been completely answered. IFC members expressed consternation that at a time when intellectual freedom is being challenged regularly, this sends a message that IF is not a priority for ALA. We must continue to work and voice support for intellectual freedom as a committee and as organization members.

Updates:

Llano case: subcommittee working on justifying the Freedom to Read beyond the First Amendment is exploring using the seven points of the Freedom to Read statement from ALA to clarify that if the Constitution is no longer the basis of the Freedom to Read, language could be added clarifying that the FTR is foundational to our ethics and mission, and that even without Constitutional backing other arguments can be made, including legal precedent to acknowledge the FTR as a critical part of a democratic society. The subcommittee will continue to review statements and get input from the ALA Policy Core.

AI: AI working group will write a rough draft due in December on an ALA policy on the use of AI in libraries. It will be finished in March and sent to the Council for a vote.

Support Rural Libraries: original poll is being redone due to low response; will be compiled after Thanksgiving.

OIF updates:

Outreach to new organizations not previously partnered with is being nurtured. Banned Books Week went really well, with George Takei as spokesperson. Cards Against Humanity did a fundraiser.

Liaisons and Representatives reports:

AASL gave IF awards at its conference. Authors Against Book Bans was mentioned as a positive resource for IF and school libraries. Retired Members working on new round table rules for meetings, a book review club, and a president's program for conferences. Sustainability/ALSC will have freedom to read info for Delaware on its upcoming ALSC blog.

Assessment of Committees conducted by ALA Committee on Organization: recommended Committee on Professional Ethics becomes a subcommittee of IFC. Considering renaming IFC to Professional Values Committee; still in discussion and must be approved by ALA Council. This was questioned by some members as to why the name needed to changed, was it to "tone down" IF purpose? It seems to send a bad message to membership.

If you have any questions or would like to bring anything to the ALA IFC, please contact me.

I'm Amanda Sprochi and I'm the LHRT liaison to the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee. This is the November report.

Reduction in ALA workforce: ALA's reduction in workforce eliminated the position of the Director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom, held by Deborah Caldwell Stone. There will no longer be a director of the OIF; Sarah Lamdan will remain as Deputy Director. This also affects the Freedom to Read Foundation, as the OIF Director is also the director of the FTRF. There will supposedly be an OIF, but may be housed under another department.

This move was a surprise to everyone. ALA has made no further statement and questions to ALA from OIF have not been completely answered. IFC members expressed consternation that at a time when intellectual freedom is being challenged regularly, this sends a message that IF is not a priority for ALA. We must continue to work and voice support for intellectual freedom as a committee and as organization members.

Updates:

Llano case: subcommittee working on justifying the Freedom to Read beyond the First Amendment is exploring using the seven points of the Freedom to Read statement from ALA to clarify that if the Constitution is no longer the basis of the Freedom to Read, language could be added clarifying that the FTR is foundational to our ethics and mission, and that even without Constitutional backing other arguments can be made, including legal precedent to acknowledge the FTR as a critical part of a democratic society. The subcommittee will continue to review statements and get input from the ALA Policy Core.

AI: AI working group will write a rough draft due in December on an ALA policy on the use of AI in libraries. It will be finished in March and sent to the Council for a vote.

Support Rural Libraries: original poll is being redone due to low response; will be compiled after Thanksgiving.

OIF updates:

Outreach to new organizations not previously partnered with is being nurtured. Banned Books Week went really well, with George Takei as spokesperson. Cards Against Humanity did a fundraiser.

Liaisons and Representatives reports:

AASL gave IF awards at its conference. Authors Against Book Bans was mentioned as a positive resource for IF and school libraries. Retired Members working on new round table rules for meetings, a book review club, and a president's program for conferences. Sustainability/ALSC will have freedom to read info for Delaware on its upcoming ALSC blog.

Assessment of Committees conducted by ALA Committee on Organization: recommended Committee on Professional Ethics becomes a subcommittee of IFC. Considering renaming IFC to Professional Values Committee; still in discussion and must be approved by ALA Council. This was questioned by some members as to why the name needed to changed, was it to "tone down" IF purpose? It seems to send a bad message to membership.

If you have any questions or would like to bring anything to the ALA IFC, please contact me.