Home Navigating the OIF Web Site
Navigating the OIF Web Site
All links found between these two lines lead to information on "Navigating the OIF Web Site."
|Background and History|Where to Begin|Special Navigation Aids|All These Sites Are Interrelated|Office for Intellectual Freedom|Committee on Professional Ethics|Freedom to Read Foundation|Intellectual Freedom Action Network|Intellectual Freedom Round Table|LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund|State Intellectual Freedom Committee Chairs|
Background and History
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The OIF Web Site links to every ALA intellectual freedom policy, statement, and guideline, and encompasses the Web sites of the Committee on Professional Ethics, the Freedom to Read Foundation, the Intellectual Freedom Action Network, Intellectual Freedom Committee, the Intellectual Freedom Round Table, the LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund, the Office for Intellectual Freedom, and the State Intellectual Freedom Committee Chairs. The OIF home page was created in 1996.
The OIF Program Officer/Communications is responsible for creating, mounting, and maintaining the pages on the OIF Web site. However, the "author" would be all staff members of the Office for Intellectual Freedom and all groups associated with OIF (e.g., the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee, Intellectual Freedom Round Table, Committee on Professional Ethics).
The Web site provides information and resources for librarians and the general public and helps fulfill the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom's mission:
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.
The primary audience is composed of librarians and the general public.
Where to Begin
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How this chapter—and the OIF Web site—is organized is explained under the heading All These Sites Are Interrelated. If you have visited the OIF Web site before or if you are ready to navigate the pages, skip this brief introduction and go directly to this heading below. Otherwise, learn here how to find the Web site, as well as intellectual freedom topics, policies, and groups.
The OIF Web site is found from the American Library Association's home page (http://www.ala.org). Once there:
- Click on "Our Association" on the top-level navigation bar (between "Awards & Scholarships" and "Issues & Advocacy";
- Click on "Offices" on the left-hand navigation bar (between "My ALA" and "Other Groups and Organizations; and
- Click on "Intellectual Freedom" under that heading on the left-hand navigation bar or "Office for Intellectual Freedom" on the retrieved page.
Topics, Policies, and Groups
Here are three quick ways to find an intellectual freedom topic, policy, or group:
- To find a topic of interest, such as "Censorship," "USA PATRIOT Act," or "Privacy and Confidentiality," click on "Intellectual Freedom Issues" on the left-hand navigation bar.
- To find a policy, such as "The Library Bill of Rights" or "Code of Ethics," click on "Statements and Policies" on the left-hand navigation bar. See also information under the headings Special Navigation Aids to find "Quick and Easy Links" and "Redirects."
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To find the seven groups associated with the Office for Intellectual Freedom, click on "IF Groups and Committees" on the left-hand navigation bar or at the heading on the top of the OIF home page. Doing so retrieves the seven groups directly associated with OIF, as well as a link to a page of other intellectual freedom advocates. Of course, each site can be found by pointing to its URL:
NOTE: To retrace the steps taken, clicking on each heading and subheading obtains a "breadcrumb" trail, such as Home ... Our Association ... Offices ... Intellectual Freedom ... Statements and Policies ... Other Policies and Guidelines, or Home ... Our Association ... Offices ... Intellectual Freedom ... Statements and Policies ... Library Bill of Rights ... Interpretations.
Special Navigational Aids
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This page provides links to key subject areas on the OIF Web site. Each one takes visitors to a page with a combo box of options, leading them to the Library Bill of Rights, LBR Interpretations, other ALA policies, resolutions, guidelines, intellectual freedom issues, intellectual freedom tool kits, etc., as well as to programs such as Banned Books Week.
This page provides shorter URLs to some of OIF's most sought after pages.
All These Sites Are Interrelated
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All the intellectual freedom Web sites are interrelated and adhere to similar designs. It is best to learn how to navigate the Office for Intellectual Freedom's site first, which at first glance appears to be the most complicated, but, hopefully, is as easily navigable as the least complicated of these sites, especially after this introduction. Introductions to other sites follow alphabetically, the Committee on Professional Ethics, followed by Freedom to Read Foundation, the Intellectual Freedom Action Network, the Intellectual Freedom Committee, the Intellectual Freedom Round Table, the LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund, and the State Intellectual Freedom Committee Chairs.
Office for Intellectual Freedom
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The Office for Intellectual Freedom's home page includes its charge, links to navigational aids, hot topics and alerts, and other intellectual freedom organizations, references, and sites of information to help visitors learn what they can do to oppose censorship and support intellectual freedom. Its pages are found under 11 major headings:
This page provides links to "Intellectual Freedom and Censorship Q&A," "First Amendment Basics," "International Intellectual Freedom Basics," "American Library Basics," "International Library Basics," "Censorship Basics," "Internet Censorship," "What You Can Do to Oppose Censorship," "What You Can Do to Celebrate Your Freedom to Read!" "ALA Intellectual Freedom Policies and the First Amendment," "Intellectual Freedom, ALAAction No. 2 in a series," and "Lester Asheim in Cyberspace." Most of these pages provide links to basic intellectual freedom documents, such as the "Library Bill of Rights," the "Freedom to Read" statement, and "Libraries: An American Value."
This page provides links to other "First Amendment Advocates," "First Amendment Resources," and "Notable First Amendment Court Cases," along with links to related topics on non-ALA sites.1
This page provides links to various ALA intellectual freedom policies, arranged under topical headings, such as "Academic Libraries," "Access," "Basic Intellectual Freedom Policies," "Behavior," "Destruction of Libraries," "Diversity," "Ethics," "Evaluating Library Collections," "Exhibit Spaces and Bulletin Boards," "Expurgation of Library Materials," "Governmental Intimidation," "Internet," "Labeling," "Library Resources," "Media Ownership," "Meeting Rooms," "Minors," "Privacy," "Public Forum," and "Torture." The left-hand navigation bar provides links to the "Library Bill of Rights," the "ALA Code of Ethics" (including its history and the Spanish version), the "Freedom to Read" statement, "Intellectual Freedom Resolutions" (e.g., "New FCC Rules and Media Concentration"), "Other Policies and Guidelines" (e.g., "Policy on Governmental Intimidation" and "Policy Concerning Confidentiality of Personally Identifiable Information about Library Users"), ALA's "Core Values Statement," and "Related Links."
The Office for Intellectual Freedom, with the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee and others, develops tool kits on a variety of topics to assist librarians and the general public. Tool kits under "Intellectual Freedom Toolkits" on the left-hand navigation bar include the "Intellectual Freedom Manual," "Libraries & the Internet Toolkit," "Outsourcing and Privatization," and "Privacy." Because of space limitations, "Intellectual Freedom Manual" provides links to chapters unable to be published in the current edition, in addition to related links.
In addition to "Definitions to Clarify Terminology Associated with Challenges," this page provides links to two pages: "Dealing with Challenges to Books and Other Library Materials" and "Reporting a Challenge." "Dealing" provides links to "The Censor: Motives and Tactics," "Checklist & Ideas for Library Staff Working with Community Leaders," "Conducting a Challenge Hearing," "Coping with Challenges: Kids and Libraries," "Coping with Challenges: Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges to Library Materials," "Dealing with Concerns about Library Resources," "Developing a Confidentiality Policy," and "Workbook for Selection Policy Writing." "Reporting" provides information on how to report a challenge, either with the "Challenge Database Form" (online or print version)2 or by contacting OIF, Office for Intellectual Freedom (800-545-2433, ext. 4223, or oif@ala.org).
This page provides links to various intellectual freedom issues, such as "Book Burning," "Censorship and Challenges," "Censorship in the Schools," "Confidentiality and Coping with Law Enforcement Inquiries," "Destruction of Libraries," "Freedom of Information Act," "Media Concentration," "Privacy and Confidentiality," "Radio Frequency IDentification Chips and Systems," "Surveillance in America," and the "USA PATRIOT Act." The left-hand navigation bar provides links to "In the States." This page provides links to "Contacting Elected Officials," "Resolutions of State Library Associations Supporting Legal Action by the American Library Association to Challenge CIPA in Federal Courts," "State and Regional Library Associations," "State Intellectual Freedom Committee Chairs," "State Legislation," "State Privacy Laws regarding Library Records," and "USA Patriot Act Resolutions of State Library Associations."
September 23-30, 2006, will mark the 25th annual celebration of "Banned Books Week: Celebrate the Freedom to Read." This page provides links to "Background" (history of BBW and BBW sponsors); "Challenged and Banned Books" (Why are Books Challenged? Who Challenges Books? What's the Difference Between a Challenge and a Banning? How is the List of Most Challenged Books Tabulated? The Most Frequently Challenged Books, The Most Frequently Challenged Authors, and the Top Ten Challenged Authors 1990 to Present); and "BBW Kits" (how to order the Banned Books Week Kit of posters, bookmarks, and resource guide). In addition, there is a link to "The 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books" and to the ALA Public Information Office's "BBW Press Kit." In addition, most pages provide links to related topics on ALA and non-ALA sites.
Young people have First Amendment rights, and this page provides information and links to explore these rights. This page explores those rights in school. Links lead to "What You Can Do," "Court Cases," "School: Intellectual Freedom for Young People," "Hot Issues," and "Especially for Children and Their Parents." Once again, most pages provide links to related topics on ALA and non-ALA sites. The left-hand navigation bar provides a link to "The One Un-American Act," by William O. Douglas.
This page provides links to the Committee on Professional Ethics, the Freedom to Read Foundation, the Intellectual Freedom Committee, the Intellectual Freedom Round Table, the LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund and the State Intellectual Freedom Committee Chairs. These pages include links to these groups' rosters and other related pages. "IF Groups and Committees" also provides links to the Intellectual Freedom Action Network and IFACTION, and other First Amendment advocates.
This page provides links to "Intellectual Freedom Programs at the ALA Annual Conference," "Lawyers for Libraries," "Intellectual Freedom Publications," and "Banned Books Week." "Intellectual Freedom Publications" includes links to "Freedom to Read Foundation News," "Intellectual Freedom Action News," "Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom," and "Order OIF and Banned Books Week Materials."
This page provides links to "How to Contact OIF Staff" and "History, Authorship, and Purpose of the OIF Web Site."
Committee on Professional Ethics
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The Committee on Professional Ethics' home page includes its charge and contact information for its OIF staff liaisons. Its pages are found under three major headings:
This page is automatically generated and formatted by ALA's iMIS membership system. Contact information, including e-mail addresses, is always current.
This page provides links to ALA's Code of Ethics. On the left-hand navigation bar under this heading are links to "Skits" (scripts that explore ethical issues, performed by the Committee on Professional Ethics at past ALA Annual Conferences) and "Explanatory Statements" (explanatory statements written by the committee on the ALA Code of Ethics).
In addition to links to other intellectual freedom groups, this page links to "Intellectual Freedom Issues," "Codes of Ethics from Library Associations Worldwide," "Ethics Links to Librarian and Information Manager Associations WWW Pages," "ProfessionalEthics.ca," and "Creating a Code of Ethics for Your Organization." It also links to "Code of Ethics for Special Collections Librarians" (October 2003), prepared by the Association of College & Research Libraries' Rare Books and Manuscripts Section. It is an update to the 1993 "Standards for Ethical Conduct for Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Librarians."
Freedom to Read Foundation
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The Freedom to Read Foundation's home page includes its mission and contact information for its FTRF staff liaisons. Its pages are found under four major headings:
This page provides links to "FTRF Board of Directors" and "How to Join the Freedom to Read Foundation."
This page provides links to "Elections," "First Amendment Court Cases," "First Freedom Op-ed Service," "FTRF News," "FTRF Endorsements," "FTRF Time Line," "Status of Recent Cases," "Jenner & Block (FTRF's Counsel) Memoranda," "Reports to ALA Council," and "Roll of Honor Award."
This page provides links to the "Office for Intellectual Freedom" and "Intellectual Freedom Issues."
This page describes the purpose and activities of the Freedom to Read Foundation and how to contact the foundation.
Intellectual Freedom Action Network
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The Intellectual Freedom Action Network's home page describes its purpose and how to volunteer. Its pages are found under two major headings:
This page describes IFACTION, the news-only, no-discussion e-list of the Intellectual Freedom Action Network and the Office for Intellectual Freedom. There is also a brief description and link to the now-defunct The Intellectual Freedom Action News (formerly Memorandum) (ISSN 0734-3086), which was published monthly OIF but ceased publication with the June/July/August 1999 issue. IFACTION replaced this service.
In addition to links to other intellectual freedom groups, this page links to "Intellectual Freedom Issues."
Intellectual Freedom Committee
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The Intellectual Freedom Committee's home page includes its charge and contact information for its OIF staff liaisons. Its pages are found under three major headings:
This page provides links to the rosters of the IFC and its subcommittees. Each roster is automatically generated and formatted by ALA's iMIS membership system. Contact information, including e-mail addresses, is always current.
This page provides links to "IFC Reports to Council" and "Intellectual Freedom Manual."
In addition to links to other intellectual freedom groups, this page links to "Intellectual Freedom Issues."
Intellectual Freedom Round Table
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The Intellectual Freedom Round Table's home page includes its mission. Its pages are found under four major headings:
This page provides links to the rosters of the IFRT Executive Committee and other IFRT committees. Each roster is automatically generated and formatted by ALA's iMIS membership system. Contact information, including e-mail addresses, is always current. In addition, this page provides links to the contact information of the IFRT liaisons and representatives. This page also provides contact information for the OIF staff liaison to the IFRT. This page also provides links to "Forms for IFRT Ballot," "IFRT Bylaws," "How to Join IFRT (membership information)," "IFRT Chairs," "ALA Round Table Coordinating Assembly," and "ALA Round Table Handbook."
This page provides links to "Awards" (Eli M. Oboler Memorial Award; John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award; SIRS-ProQuest State and Regional Intellectual Freedom Achievement Award), "E-List," "Program," "IFRT Report," "IF Competencies," "IF Syllabi," and "Merritt Fund and IFRT."
In addition to links to other intellectual freedom groups, this page links to "Intellectual Freedom Issues."
This page describes the purpose and activities of the Intellectual Freedom Round Table and how to contact the OIF staff liaison to the IFRT.
LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund
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The LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund's home page includes its mission. Its pages are found under five major headings:
This page provides contact information for the Merritt trustees.
This page provides information about LeRoy C. Merritt.
This page provides information about how to donate to the Merritt Fund. (The Merritt Fund is supported solely by donations and contributions from concerned groups and individuals. Contributions to the Merritt Fund are not tax-exempt, because they are used to give direct aid to individuals without reference to Internal Revenue Service requirements regarding tax-exempt organizations. Hence, contributions do not qualify as personal tax dedications for donors.)
This page provides links to the Word and PDF versions of the application for assistance.
This page provides links to "Application for Assistance," "Merritt Fund Three-Year Report" (August 2003), and "Merritt to the Rescue" (an interview with someone assisted by Merritt).
State Intellectual Freedom Committee Chairs
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The State Intellectual Freedom Committee Chairs' home page includes information on contacting the OIF staff liaison to the state IFC chairs, how chairs can be subscribed to the state IFC business e-list, and how to provide updated information regarding contact information, terms of office, and so forth. Its pages are found under three major headings:
This page provides contact information for the state IFC chairs. (New state IFC chair are asked to provide change of address information to OIF, Office for Intellectual Freedom, American Library Association, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611, as soon as possible. They may use either the Change of Address Form, which can be mailed or faxed) or the Online Change of Address Form, which is e-mailed directly.)
This page provides links to "State and Regional Library Associations," "ALA Conference Planning Calendar, 2002-2012," as well as links to pages related to activities and actions of the state Intellectual Freedom Committees.
In addition to links to other intellectual freedom groups, this page links to "Intellectual Freedom Issues" and "In the States" (links to important state pages on the ALA Web site). This page provides links to "Contacting Elected Officials," "Resolutions of State Library Associations Supporting Legal Action by the American Library Association to Challenge CIPA in Federal Courts," "State and Regional Library Associations," "State Intellectual Freedom Committee Chairs," "State Legislation," "State Privacy Laws regarding Library Records," and "USA Patriot Act Resolutions of State Library Associations."
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1Links 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.
2Since 1990, the American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom has maintained a confidential database on challenged materials. ALA collects information from two sources: newspapers and reports submitted by individuals, some of whom use the "Challenge Database Form." All challenges are compiled into a database. Reports of challenges culled from newspapers across the country are compiled in the bimonthly Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom; those reports are then compiled in the Banned Books Week Resource Guide. Challenges reported to the ALA by individuals are kept confidential. In these cases, ALA will release only the title of the book being challenged, the state and the type of institution (school, public library). The name of the institution and its town will not be disclosed. A list of most frequently challenged books is compiled from these challenges for each annual Banned Books Week.
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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Mail comments on OIF Web site to dwood@ala.org
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