KQW
Knowledge Quest Web Edition
November/December 2007

Intellectual Freedom 101

 "I think the First Amendment is probably the most important thing that you have in this country.  And I'm always horrified at the cavalier way that you (Americans) treat it." - Neil Gaiman

Fundamental Intellectual Freedom Documents

First Amendment of the Bill of Rights of  the U.S. Constitution 

Notable First Amendment Court Cases

Library Bill of Rights

Interpretations to the Library Bill of Rights

Code of Ethics for Librarians

Columns

• Guest Editor's Column  
  • Intellectual Freedom 101 - Helen R. Adams (KQ Print PDF)
• Homepage
  • Four Questions to Ask Yourself - Debbie Abilock (KQ Print PDF)
• President's Column
  • Who's Protecting Whom? AASL and Intellectual Freedom
     - Sara Kelly Johns  (KQ Print PDF) 
• CBC Meet the Author/Illustrator
  •  Red White and Blue- Laurie Lazarro Knowlton (KQ Print PDF)
• PBS Teaching and Learning Resources
  •  Focus on Intellectual Freedom - PBS Teachers' Staff (KQ Print PDF)
• Tough Choices
  • What Should I Do if My Principal Orders Me to Remove an Unchallenged Book? - Gail Dickinson (KQ Print PDF)
  • Do My Very Strong, Conservative Religious Beliefs Make Me Less of a School Librarian? - Gail Dickinson (KQ Web PDF)

Features

• Are We Lucky for the First Amendment? A Brief History of Students'
  Right to Read - Marie Kelsey (KQ Print PDF) 
• Intellectual Freedom for Youth: Social Technology and Social Networks
    - Annette Lamb (KQ Print PDF) 
  • Getting Started with Social Technology in Your Library - Annette Lamb
• Protecting Access to Information - James Bowen
• Interview with Barbara Bailey: Patriot Act Primer for School Librarians
    - Barbara Bailey and Gayle Bogel
• Intellectual Freedom: A Lonely Task Without the First Amendment
    - Ann Symons
• It's About Conversation - Pat Scales 
• An Open Letter: Teenagers' Views of Censorship in Libraries - Sarah McNichol 
• Preparing for a Challenge - Ann Martin (KQ Print PDF) 
  • Reconsideration Checklist Sample - Ann Martin
  • Request for Reconsideration Sample - Ann Martin
• Wow and Why: Libraries and Intellectual Freedom in Saudi Arabia
    - Kristine Larson Brown
  • Saudi Arabia Resources - Kristine Larson Brown
• Championing Intellectual Freedom - Jeffery Gibson (KQ Print PDF) 
• Overview of Intellectual Freedom Articles - Lesley Farmer
• Banned Books: Engaging Students and Teachers - Cheryl Youse
• Professional Pages Book Reviews
  • Remaining Relevant: How Joining the Whyville Community Can Help 
       - Reviewed by Cheri Dobbs 

Spotlight on Research

“Censorship of school library collections has risen significantly in the last few decades, and such attacks are increasing. American courts have ruled that students in schools have First Amendment rights and some degree of freedom of speech. Courts also have ruled that students have the right to information and to learn and discuss issues of importance within the context of their schools and libraries. This study sought to determine the knowledge levels of a sample of school librarians concerning what they know about and how they support important court rulings that affect students' First Amendment rights "

Available in School Library Media Research, the online research journal of the American Association of School Librarians.

 KQ/KQW Featured Collaborations

Got a Tough
Question?
Ask Dr. Gail

AASL Blog News and Views

Join AASL

Gayle Bogel - KQWeb Editor
gbogel at gmail.com