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Office for Intellectual Freedom

The Office for Intellectual Freedom is charged with implementing ALA policies concerning the concept of intellectual freedom as embodied in the Library Bill of Rights, the Association’s basic policy on free access to libraries and library materials. The goal of the office is to educate librarians and the general public about the nature and importance of intellectual freedom in libraries.

Alternative Press Needs Librarians' Stories of Government Seeking Information on Library Users (new, February 10, 2004)

Tell Congress to Restore Reader Privacy Today! (new, February 5, 2004)

In the States (new, January 28, 2004)

Another "Hysteric" Librarian for Freedom 

Quick and Easy Guide to the Office for Intellectual Freedom's Pages

Redirects to the Office for Intellectual Freedom's Web Pages

"Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us." --Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, "The One Un-American Act." Nieman Reports,  vol. 7, no. 1 (Jan. 1953): p. 20.

Lawyers for Libraries is an ongoing project of the American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom, designed to create a network of attorneys around the country involved in, or committed to becoming involved in, the defense of the First Amendment freedom to read and the application of constitutional law to library policies, principles, and problems.

Visit Lawyers for Libraries for information on the 2003 institutes.

Additional Links of Interest

For the latest news on intellectual freedom issues,

ORGANIZATIONS	REFERENCES	WHAT YOU CAN DO
ALA Washington Office	Intellectual Freedom Manual	What You Can Do To Oppose Censorship
Bill of Rights Defense Committee	Privacy Tool Kit	Coalitions Against Censorship
PEN USA Freedom to Write	Libraries & the Internet Toolkit	Intellectual Freedom Issues
Media Coalition	Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) Web Site	What You Can Do to Celebrate Your Freedom to Read!
FAIFE (Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression)	Notable First Amendment Court Cases	Dealing with Challenges
First Amendment Cyber-Tribune	State Privacy Laws regarding Library Records	Reporting a Challenge
National Coalition Against Censorship	American Civil Liberties Union	Especially for Children and Their Parents
	New Sources	Contacting Elected Officials
	Google News	Subscribing to IFACTION and Other E-Lists
Free Expression Network	USA Patriot Act	Review IFACTION Archive
First Amendment Center	TinyURL	Join the Intellectual Freedom Round Table
Article 19	Universal Declaration of Human Rights	Join the Freedom to Read Foundation

Links to non-ALA sites have been provided because these sites may have information of interest. Neither the American Library Association nor the Office for Intellectual Freedom necessarily endorses the views expressed or the facts presented on these sites; and furthermore, ALA and OIF do not endorse any commercial products that may be advertised or available on these sites.

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