Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF)
IFRT Seeks Nominations for the 2026 Intellectual Freedom Awards
CHICAGO—The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) of the American Library Association (ALA) is now accepting nominations for its prestigious awards recognizing individuals and organizations that have supported intellectual freedom: the Eli M. Oboler...
Supreme Court refuses to hear Little v. Llano County: ALA responds
ALA expressed disappointment and concern following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to allow a lower court ruling from the Fifth Circuit to stand. This decision will significantly restrict the freedom to read in public libraries across TX, LA, and MS.
“Faith for Libraries” Campaign Will Combat Book Censorship and Defend Religious Freedom
Interfaith Alliance, a national leader in defending civil rights and multi-faith democracy, today is launching a new campaign with the American Library Association and Unite Against Book Bans to combat book censorship and defend the freedom to read.
Legendary Actor/Author/Activist George Takei Named Honorary Chair of Banned Books Week 2025
Pioneering actor, author, and activist George Takei has been named honorary chair of Banned Books Week, which will take place October 5 – 11, 2025. Takei will be joined in leading the annual event by youth honorary chair Iris Mogul.
Labeling and Rating Systems: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights
Combines previous interpretations “Labeling Systems” and “Rating Systems”.
Banned Books Week
Banned Books Week will take place October 5 – 11, 2025, with the theme “Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights.”
ALA Announces 2025 Recipients of Celebrated Library Intellectual Freedom Awards
CHICAGO – The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) of the American Library Association (ALA) is pleased to announce the Illinois Library Association as the recipient of the 2025 Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award; Nate Coulter...
ALA ANNOUNCES BANNED BOOKS WEEK 2025 THEME
The American Library Association and Banned Books Week Coalition are pleased to announce the theme for Banned Books Week 2025: “Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights.” Banned Books Week will take place October 5 – 11, 2025.
American Library Association kicks off National Library Week with the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2024 and the State of America’s Libraries Report
The American Library Association (ALA) today released the highly anticipated Top 10 Most Challenged Books List.
ALA, Unite Against Book Bans share Right to Read Day theme and actions
American Library Association and Unite Against Book Bans invite the community to participate in Right to Read Day, taking place April 7, the Monday of National Library Week.
ALA, AASL decry U.S. Defense Department censorship of schools and libraries on military installations
DoDEA school libraries provide a wealth of information and resources to their communities. By ordering the removal and suppression of learning materials and activities in its schools and libraries, the DoDEA is engaging in censorship...
ALA to U. S. Department of Education: Book bans are real
The American Library Association responds to the Department of Education's dismissal of complaints about censorship and discrimination: the "effort to terminate protections... advances the demonstrably false claim that book bans are not real."
IFRT Opens Nominations for 2025 John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award
The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) is accepting nominations for the 2025 John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award, which honors notable contributions to intellectual freedom and demonstrations of personal courage in defense of freedom of expression...
ALA, Writers Guild Initiative Announce Creative Writing Workshops for Librarians
The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (ALA-OIF) and the Writers Guild Initiative (WGI) are seeking 25 librarians for a unique series of online writer’s workshops that will pair the librarians with professional film and...
American Library Association reveals preliminary data on 2024 book challenges
Between January 1 and August 31, 2024, ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 414 attempts to censor library materials and services.
American Library Association Hosts Historic Intellectual Freedom Summit at the Library of Congress
ALA convened a third Intellectual Freedom Summit in its nearly 150-year history, bringing together national organizations, publishing allies, educational institutions, foundations, authors and other champions of intellectual freedom.
American Library Association to Host Historic Intellectual Freedom Summit at the Library of Congress
Event to Forge Collaborative Playbook to Address Censorship Challenges and Protect Free Expression WASHINGTON - The American Library Association (ALA) is convening a third Intellectual Freedom Summit in its nearly 150-year history, bringing together...
Filmmaker Ava DuVernay To Lead Banned Books Week As Honorary Chair
White House Honoree Julia Garnett to Serve as Youth Honorary Chair CHICAGO — Award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay has been named honorary chair for Banned Books Week 2024, which takes place September 22 – 28. DuVernay will be joined by youth honorary...
Banned Books from the Big Chair returns for 2024 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition
Sage, the American Library Association, the Banned Books Week Coalition, and Unite Against Book Bans are partnering to bring Banned Books from the Big Chair back to the 2024 ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition! To counter the unparalleled rise in...
Acclaimed poet, essayist, and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib to headline second annual Rally for the Right to Read
The American Library Association (ALA) and Unite Against Book Bans will host a second annual Rally for the Right to Read: Voters Unite Against Book Bans at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront on Friday, June 28, 2024.