Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT)

Intellectual Freedom Round Table announces 2023 John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award

CHICAGO – The ALA Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) is pleased to announce Amanda Jones, as the recipient of the 2023 John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award for notable contributions to intellectual freedom and demonstrations of personal courage in defense of freedom of expression.

Intellectual Freedom Round Table announces Michigan Library Association as the recipient of the 2023 Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award

CHICAGO - The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) of the American Library Association (ALA) is pleased to announce the Michigan Library Association (MLA) as the recipient of the 2023 Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award.

The award will be presented at Unite Against Book Bans! A Rally for the Right to Read: Uniting for Libraries & Intellectual Freedom at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, 6:00-8:00pm Thursday, June 22, 2023.

Intellectual Freedom Round Table announces Emily J.M. Knox as the recipient of the 2023 Eli M. Oboler Award

CHICAGO - The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) of the American Library Association (ALA) is pleased to announce Emily J.M. Knox, PhD, MSLIS as the recipient of the 2023 Eli M. Oboler Memorial Award ⁠— which recognizes the best published work in the area of intellectual freedom ⁠— for her book "Foundations of Intellectual Freedom," published in 2022 by ALA Neal-Schuman.

Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) seeks nominations for the John Phillip Immroth Award

CHICAGO - The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) is accepting nominations for the 2023 John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award. This award, presented annually, honors notable contributions to intellectual freedom and demonstrations of personal courage in defense of freedom of expression by a living individual, group, or organization. The award consists of a citation and $500.

Intellectual Freedom Round Table seeks nominations for the Eli M. Oboler Award

CHICAGO - The Intellectual Freedom Round Table is seeking nominations for the 2023 Eli M. Obloer Memorial Award. IFRT began giving the award on an annual basis last year. 

Freedom to Read Celebration, Supporting the Merritt Fund, and Featuring Banned Author David Levithan

Join the ALA Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) and the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) along with banned author David Levithan, library professionals, authors, and friends for this 2022 Freedom to Read Celebration, Merritt Fund fundraiser, and reception.

IFRT awards 2022 Hodges Award to two Tennessee Organizations

The Intellectual Freedom Round Table's Coalition Building Committee will award the 2022 Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award to the Tennessee Library Association (TLA) and the Tennessee Association of School Librarians (TASL). 

Terri Lesley Receives IFRT Immroth Memorial Award

The American Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) Immroth Award Committee is pleased to announce Terri Lesley as the recipient of the 2022 John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award, which honors notable contributions to intellectual freedom and demonstrations of personal courage in defense of freedom of expression.

Jamie M. Gregory Receives IFRT Oboler Memorial Award

The American Library Association's Eli M. Oboler Memorial Award is presented each year for an excellent work in the area of intellectual freedom.

ALA publishes state legislative toolkit for legislative advocacy

CHICAGO, IL - The American Library Association (ALA) has published a State Legislative Toolkit to help organizations advance state legislation that supports libraries, library workers, and the communities they serve.  Authored by the Public Policy and Advocacy Office, in partnership with the Office for Intellectual Freedom, the toolkit reflects input from ALA member groups across the association and was developed in conjunction with the state legislative summit in October.