Intellectual Freedom

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Privacy All Year Round: Choose Privacy Week, May 1 – 7, 2014

CHICAGO – Each year on May 1, librarians, library users and privacy advocates come together to observe Choose Privacy Week - an annual event promoting the importance of individual privacy rights.  But protecting and promoting privacy in libraries and in patrons’ lives shouldn't be a one-off annual event.  Libraries and librarians should provide privacy programming and resources throughout the year, whether the topic is government surveillance, data mining, identity theft, or threats to personal privacy from implementation of emerging technologies. 

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FTRF Krug Fund Banned Books Week grant applications open through April 30

CHICAGO — Applications are now open for the 2014 Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund Banned Books Week event grants, sponsored by the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF). Organizations are encouraged to apply for grants of $1,000 and/or $2,500 in support of "Read-Outs” or other activities that celebrate Banned Books Week (Sept. 21–27, 2014).

Applications for the grants will be accepted through April 30, 2014, and the announcements will be made in June.

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ALA joins SXSW technology policy discussions

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) will join the technology policy conversations in play at the South by Southwest EDU and Interactive conferences in Austin starting this week. Privacy and the “internet of things” will be among the topics on the agenda for the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) and Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP). ALA also will join members and sister library organizations at the joint “Innovative Booth for Libraries” March 7-11, 2014.

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FTRF, ALA file amicus brief in U.S. Supreme Court case on ability to bring First Amendment challenges

CHICAGO — The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) and American Library Association (ALA) on Friday joined a broad range of organizations and bookstores in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court (PDF) in a case potentially affecting the right to challenge laws that infringe on the First Amendment prior to their enforcement.

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American Library Association president responds to Obama surveillance speech

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Barbara Stripling, president of the American Library Association (ALA), released the following statement regarding President Barack Obama’s remarks on the National Security Agency surveillance program:

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Freedom to Read Foundation hosts memorial reception for Carolyn Forsman at Midwinter Meeting

CHICAGO — The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) will be hosting a memorial reception for Carolyn Forsman, the librarian and jeweler who passed away shortly before the 2013 Midwinter Meeting.  The reception will be from 7 - 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24 in room 302 of the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Forsman, who was known by countless ALA Conference attendees for her wonderful jewelry (and purple hair!), exhibited nearly every year, with proceeds going to benefit the Freedom to Read Foundation.

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Freedom to Read Foundation and ALA file brief in lawsuit challenging Arizona ethnic studies ban

CHICAGO — The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) yesterday joined with the American Library Association and several other library, education and free speech organizations in filing an amicus brief with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Arce v. Huppenthal, a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Arizona Revised Statute § 15-112(A).

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John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award nominations deadline extended

CHICAGO - The John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award honors intellectual freedom fighters in and outside the library profession who have demonstrated remarkable personal courage in resisting censorship. The award consists of $500 and a citation. Individuals, a group of individuals or an organization are eligible for the award.

Sponsor and Deadline

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Freedom to Read Foundation opens nominations for 2014 trustee elections

CHICAGO — Nominations are now open for the April 2014 Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) Board of Trustee elections.  Five positions on the FTRF board of trustees will be filled in the election to be held April 1 – May 1, 2014.

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American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom defends free access to information

CHICAGO — The following is a statement issued by American Library Association (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom Director Barbara Jones regarding Internet filtering practices in U.S. libraries:         

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