Intellectual Freedom Committee

Charge

To ensure academic and research library engagement with the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom and the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee; to advise ACRL on matters relating to intellectual freedom, including matters pertaining to the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the ALA Library Bill of Rights and their implication for academic library collections, services, and programs; to prepare and gather materials which will advise the academic librarian of available services and support both in formulating policies of intellectual freedom and for resisting any pressure or action designed to impair the rights of users.

Roster

Theresa Liedtka (Chair, July 1, 2012, to July 22, 2013)
J. Douglas Archer (Member, July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2014)
Sheila M. Bonnand (Member, July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2014)
Mr. Michael A. Wirtz (Member, July 1, 2011, to July 22, 2013)
Ann Campion Riley (Board Liaison, July 1, 2012, to July 22, 2013)
David Free (Staff Liaison, July 1, 2012, to July 22, 2013)
Megan R. Griffin (Staff Liaison, July 1, 2012, to July 22, 2013)

Previous Year / Next Year

Displaying active committee roster as of 05/18/2013. Last retrieved on 05/18/2013. Members can log in to view full contact information for committee members.

Resources

Intellectual Freedom Principles for Academic Libraries

ACRL's Intellectual Freedom Committee Blog

Public Posts from ALA Connect

Composition

  • A minimum of five members (i.e. a chair, vice-chair, and three members)
  • Chair will serve as ex-officio member for the ALA Freedom to Read Foundation and will represent ACRL interests in the foundation.
  • Additional appointments at the discretion of the Vice-President/President-Elect and Appointments Committee

Origin

The Intellectual Freedom Task Force was established in 1992 at the ALA Annual Conference. In 1994, the task fore was made permanent as a standing committee. In 2005, the committee was included as a component committee of the Advocacy Coordinating Committee. In 2009, it was redefined by the ACRL Board  as a stand-alone divisional committee when the coordinating committee was reclassified as a standard committee, with no coordinating committee umbrella structure.

Get Involved

Volunteer applications for ACRL division-level committees are accepted through February 15 for service the following committee term, which begins July 1. Visit http://www.ala.org/acrl/membership/volunteer/volunteer for more information and a link to the volunteer form.

Staff Liaison

David Free
Editor-in-Chief of College and Research Libraries News/Marketing and Communications
Association of College & Research Libraries
American Library Association
50 East Huron Street
Chicago, IL  60611-2788
Work: 312-280-2517
E-mail: dfree@ala.org