Intellectual Freedom

ALA actively advocates in defense of the rights of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment.  A publicly supported library provides free and equal access to information for all people of that community.  We enjoy this basic right in our democratic society.  It is a core value of the library profession. 

Intellectual Freedom Action Areas

• Banned and Challenged Books
• Censorship and First Amendment Issues
• Filtering
• Library Bill of Rights
• Privacy

Selected Resources

• Intellectual Freedom Manual
• Intellectual Freedom Toolkits
• Intellectual Freedom Online Learning offerings
• Intellectual Freedom Statements and Guidelines
• Civil Liberties, Intellectual Freedom, and Privacy on District Dispatch

For more information and additional resources, contact the Office for Intellectual Freedom.