Select Intellectual Freedom Programs
at the 2007 ALA Annual Conference
June 21–27, 2007
Washington, DC
“Congress Shall Make No Law Respecting an Establishment of Religion, or Prohibiting the Free Exercise Thereof; or Abridging the Freedom of Speech, or of the Press; or the Right of the People Peaceably to Assemble, and To Petition the Government for a Redress of Grievances.”—First Amendment
Intellectual freedom programs are listed here as the Office for Intellectual Freedom is made aware of them. ALA round tables, other offices, divisions, and other units are encouraged to e-mail their intellectual freedom program information to Nanette Perez, Office for Intellectual Freedom. Please format program information thusly:
- Title
- Sponsor or cosponsors
- Day, Date, Time
- Description (plus URLs, if any)
- Speakers: Name, Affiliation, City
Thank you.
The following programs are in chronological, then alphabetical, order.
Thursday, June 21
"Celebrating the Library Bill of Rights"
Preconference sponsored by the ALA Intellectual Freedom Round Table
Thursday, June 21, 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., Washington Convention Center, Room 146A
Join us at the first-ever Intellectual Freedom Round Table preconference to celebrate the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights. Learn how one of our profession's core documents has helped library intellectual freedom activists deal with the challenges they themselves have faced.
The preconference is scheduled for Thursday, June 21, 1:00-4:00 p.m., in conjunction with the 2007 ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. Tickets are only $25 each.
After the keynote address delivered by Dr. Carrie Gardner, Assistant Professor, School of Library and Information Science, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., and current member of the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee, learn what happens when:
. . . Subject experts on a university faculty object to library materials they consider inaccurate—Rosanne Cordell, Head of Reference Services, Schurz Library, Indiana University, South Bend, IN, and current Chair, Intellectual Freedom Round Table
. . . A librarian is accused of sexual harassment because he recommended a controversial book—Scott Savage, Head of Reference and Instruction, Ohio State University, Mansfield, OH
. . . Internet filtering is supposed to prevent a hostile work environment in a private university setting—J. Douglas Archer, Reference and Peace Studies Librarian, Hesburgh Library, University of Notre Dame, IN
. . . A librarian refuses to give police library circulation records without a subpoena—Michele M. Reutty, Library Director, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
. . . A librarian receives a National Security Letter (NSL) from the FBI—Barbara Bailey, Director, Welles-Turner Memorial Library in Glastonbury, CT
. . . A book challenge provides an opportunity to help school administrators understand the practicality and importance of the Library Bill of Rights—Kelley McDaniel, School Library Media Specialist, King Middle School, Portland, ME
. . . Gay and lesbian library displays are challenged—June Pinnell-Stephens, Collection Services Manager, Retired, Fairbanks North Star Borough Public Library, AK
. . . A local challenge involving erotica occurs—Kent Oliver, Executive Director, Stark County District Library, Canton, OH, and current Chair of the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee
Following their presentations, each panelist will facilitate table discussions focusing on the many interpretations that expand on the guiding principles of the Library Bill of Rights.
To register, check off "Celebrating the Library Bill of Rights" on your ALA paper or online form. If you've already registered for the Conference, call 1-800-545-2433, extension 5, to add this preconference to your itinerary.
Visit ALA online for more information on the American Library Association Annual Conference.
Saturday, June 23
"Librarian Overboard! Are you Navigating Stormy Issues without an Ethical Compass?"
Sponsored by the ALA Committee on Professional Ethics
Saturday, June 23, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m., Renaissance Mayflower, Colonial Room
As ALA begins its review of the COA Standards, a panel featuring members of the ALISE Information Ethics Special Interest Group (IE-SIG) and current and former members of the ALA Committee on Professional Ethics will discuss issues for teaching, research, and service for information ethics education. Following their presentations, questions will be solicited from the audience.
Speakers: TBA
"Scientific and Health Information: The Threat Posed by Political Interference"
Sponsored by the ALA Intellectual Freedom Round Table
Saturday, June 23, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m., Renaissance Mayflower, State Room
Susan F. Wood, PhD will discuss the value of sound science in health care policy decision-making, the growing politicization of science, and the importance of scientific freedom in safeguarding the public interest. Dr. Wood resigned as Assistant Commissioner for Women's Health at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on August 31, 2005, in protest of the decision to once again delay over-the-counter status to Plan B emergency contraception, which recently received partial approval by the FDA. Cosponsored by GODORT, SRRT, and FTF.
Sunday, June 24
CANCELLED "RFID and Privacy: Has Privacy Lost Out to Dollars and Convenience?"
Cosponsored by the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee, Office for Information Technology Policy, and Library and Information Technology Association
X Sunday, June 24, 2007, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. X
"Status of Recent Litigation Affecting Libraries"
Cosponsored by the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee and the Freedom to Read Foundation
Sunday, June 24, 2007, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m., Renaissance Mayflower, Chinese Room
Join us for a report on the status of litigation and non-litigation projects recently undertaken or monitored by the Freedom to Read Foundation. Our featured speaker is Theresa Chmara, FTRF Counsel, Jenner & Block, Washington, D.C., who also will provide practical information on how these court cases affect the daily operations of libraries. Following the presentations, questions will be solicited from the audience.
Speaker: Theresa Chmara, FTRF Counsel, Jenner & Block, Washington, D.C.; Moderator: John W. Berry, President, Freedom to Read Foundation
Monday, June 25
"Paul Reveres or Benedict Arnolds?: Whistleblowing in the Post 9/11 Age"
Cosponsored by the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee and the ALA Committee on Legislation
Monday, June 25, 2007, 10:30 a.m.-12:00 noon, Washington Convention Center, Room 144A-C
Often whistleblowers are vilified for reporting wrongdoings (remember the movie China Syndrome?) or worse (remember Karen Silkwood?). Even the government—by classifying documents as secret—attempts to silence whistleblowers (remember Sibel Edmonds?). If not, Edmonds was fired by the FBI in March 2002 for reporting shoddy work and security breaches that may have prevented the 9/11 attacks. She will explain firsthand how government secrecy can be abusive and why defending whistleblowing is a free speech issue.
Speakers: Sibel Edmonds, President, National Security Whistleblowers Coalition; Reactor to be named
"Essential Liberty or National Security: Is It Really Necessary to Give Up the One for the Other?"
Cosponsored by the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee, the Association of American Publishers Freedom to Read Committee, and the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression
Monday, June 25, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Washington Convention Center, Room 206
Almost 250 years ago, Benjamin Franklin wrote, "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." A nice aphorism in peacetime, but in an era of a prolonged War on Terror, does it still ring true for Americans? Join us for a debate between the Hon. Richard Posner, author of Not a Suicide Pact: The Constitution in a Time of National Emergency, and Geoffrey Stone, author of Perilous Times: Free Speech in Wartime from The Sedition Act of 1798 to The War on Terrorism, who will deliberate this centuries-old opinion. A question-and-answer session follows.
Speakers: Hon. Richard Posner of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and author of Not a Suicide Pact: The Constitution in a Time of National Emergency; Geoffrey Stone, Harry Kalven, Jr. Distinguished Service Professor of Law, University of Chicago, and author of Perilous Times: Free Speech in Wartime from The Sedition Act of 1798 to The War on Terrorism
"A Sticky Issue: Is Labeling a Form of Censorship?"
ALSC, Monday, June 25, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Renaissance Mayflower, Colonial Room
Is there a fine line between providing enough information for our public and supplying too much information, as we label and sticker our youth collections? Come hear dynamic presentations from speakers who espouse diverse opinions about a topic near and dear to the hearts of youth librarians.
Speakers: Stephanie Bange, Children's Librarian, Dayton Metro Library, Wilmington-Stroop Branch, Kettering, OH; Carolyn Caywood, Librarian, Virginia Beach Public Library /Bayside & Special Services Library VA; Carrie Gardner, Professor, School of Library and Info Science, Catholic University, Washington, D.C.
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.