Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF)

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) is extending the deadline for nominations for its 2016 Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award. The Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award recognizes an intellectual freedom focused organization that has developed a strong multi-year, ongoing program or a single, one-year project that exemplifies support for intellectual freedom, patron confidentiality and anti-censorship efforts.

CHICAGO — Nearly half a century ago Justice Abe Fortas famously declared that students do not shed their constitutional right to freedom of speech at the schoolhouse gate.  Yet public schools in the United States frequently censor student speech, especially controversial speech, often with the approval of the courts.   School librarians confront this reality daily as they advocate and defend students' freedom of speech and their right to receive information. 

CHICAGO — The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) is seeking nominations for its 2016 Eli M. Oboler Memorial Award. The biennial award is presented for the best published work in the area of intellectual freedom and consists of $500 and a citation. Nominations will be accepted through Dec. 1, 2015.

CHICAGO – Join the Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) to learn how to continue awareness of intellectual freedom and the harms of censorship all year long, not just during Banned Books Week in September. “Advocating for Intellectual Freedom: Beyond “Banned Books Week” will take place at 1 p.m. Central time on October 13, 2015.