Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award

About the Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award The Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award  is given to the most innovative and effective intellectual freedom project covering a state or region. 

From 1984-2009, the State and Regional Intellectual Freedom Achievement Award was given to the most innovative and effective intellectual freedom project covering a state or region. Projects could be one-time, one-year or ongoing/multi-year efforts. The award consisted of a citation and $1,000. The award was underwritten first by SIRS, then by ProQuest/SIRS.

 

Gerald Hodges joined the ALA staff in 1989 as Director of Membership Services and the Chapter Relations Office. At his death in 2006, he was the Associate Director of Communications and Marketing, but his passion was still Intellectual Freedom and Chapter Relations. Hodges willed a portion of his estate to establish the Gerald Hodges Fund in support of intellectual freedom. Memorial contributions to that fund also came from many friends and colleagues. In 2013, it was decided that the most appropriate use of that fund would be to re-institute the former "State and Regional Intellectual Freedom Achievement Award" as the "Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award."  

Administered by:

American Library Association logoWinner imageIntellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) logo

2013 Recipient(s)

Utah Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee

The Utah Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee stands for the opportunity for all Utahns to read, view, listen, speak, write, or think freely.

The Intellectual Freedom Committee of the Utah Library Association built “a strong Intellectual Freedom cohort in the State of Utah. In one year they had a fivefold increase in membership, developed and implemented training programs, successfully assisted in fighting a highly publicized banned book situation, publicized Intellectual Freedom issues, developed relationships with community organizations; recruited students, new graduates and paraprofessionals, and forged bonds and closer relationships as a committee.” Barbara Pickell, Hodges Award chair said, “The achievements of the Utah Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee epitomize the values and goals that are recognized by the Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award.”