Intellectual Freedom Round Table to hold 40th anniversary celebration at Chicago Cultural Center

For Immediate Release
Mon, 04/15/2013

Contact:

Jonathan M. Kelley

Program Coordinator

Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF)

800-545-2433 ext.4226

jokelley@ala.org

CHICAGO - After 40 years of defending and upholding First Amendment rights, it is time for a party. Come join the Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) from 7:30 - 10 p.m. on Friday, June 28, 2013 at the magnificent Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington St. at Michigan Ave.) for our 40th Anniversary Celebration. This event is held in conjunction with the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.

Tickets for this worthy event are $30 for IFRT members and $40 for non-members.  If you are not a member, consider joining IFRT for only $15 and become involved in some of the most important issues in the library community.  Tickets for students are $20.  All tickets are available via ALA's Annual Conference registration system (note: you do not have to register for the Annual Conference to attend). Refreshments, including signature cocktails, will be served.

Proceeds from this event will benefit IFRT’s prestigious John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award, honoring the courage, dedication and contribution of an individual or group setting the finest example for the defense and furtherance of the principles of intellectual freedom. The award was named for John Phillip Immroth, founder and first chair of the Intellectual Freedom Round Table in 1973.  “The winners of this award through the years have, without exception, been inspirational to all of us who know the kind of risk and dedication it takes to stand up for intellectual freedom,” said Charles Kratz, chair of the Immroth Award committee.  “Our goal is to raise $10,000 for the Immroth Award, so that it can continue to honor those who richly deserve it for years to come.”  The 2013 Immroth Award recipient will be announced later this spring.

Sponsorship opportunities are available to individuals and organizations who wish to help support the event at a higher level.  Sponsorship levels are $100 (Defender), $250 (Advocate) and $500 (Champion) and include tickets, recognition in the program and other benefits. Sponsorship donations above the price of the tickets are tax deductible.  To become a sponsor of the IFRT 40th anniversary celebration, contact Shumeca Pickett at spickett@ala.org or (312) 280-4220.

The IFRT 40th Anniversary celebration will be a great opportunity to bring together long-standing and brand new members of the Intellectual Freedom community to honor our past and look forward to our future,” says Julia Warga, chair of IFRT. “I invite everyone to come and share in what promises to be a truly delightful event!”