Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT)

Nominations open for 2022 IFRT John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award

The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) is accepting nominations for the 2022 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. IFRT will present the award during the 2022 ALA annual conference in Washington, DC.

IFRT accepting nominations for 2022 Eli M. Oboler Memorial Award

The Intellectual Freedom Round Table is pleased to announce that beginning in 2022 that the Round Table will be awarding the Eli M. Oboler Memorial Award annually. The Oboler Award will honor journal articles in even number years (2022, 2024, etc.) and then honor books in odd number years (2023, 2025, etc.) In the autumn of 2021, the Oboler committee is seeking nominations for the 2022 journal article award. The award honors a literary work or series of works in the area of intellectual freedom.

IFRT, FTRF and UIUC iSchool Honor Intellectual Freedom Award Winners at Virtual Celebration featuring Banned Author Kyle Lukoff

The ALA Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT), the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF), and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) iSchool invite library professionals and the public to a free virtual celebration for their intellectual freedom award winners on Thursday, June 24th 2021 at 5:00 p.m. CT.

Julius C. Jefferson Jr., ALA President and former FTRF President, will open the celebration with a talk highlighting the value of intellectual freedom awards in the profession and in our culture. 

Missouri Library Association receives the 2021 Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award

The Intellectual Freedom Round Table of the American Library Association is pleased to announce that the Missouri Library Association (MLA) is the 2021 recipient of the Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award.

Martin Garnar Receives IFRT Immroth Memorial Award

The American Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) Immroth Award Committee is pleased to announce Martin Garnar as the recipient of the 2021 John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award, which honors significant contributions defending intellectual freedom.

IFRT Free Memberships for Students

The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) is offering free memberships for students. Beginning March 15, 2021, students can fill out this form to receive a free membership to IFRT. Up to 200 current ALA student members and up to 25 students who are not ALA members will be given a free membership on a first-come, first-served basis.

First Annual IFRT Meeting

The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) invites all current members to attend its First All Member Gathering of IFRT on Friday, April 30, 2021, from 3-4pm (Central Time). This virtual gathering will feature an overview of IFRT's current and vital work that supports the rights of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment. It will feature ways members can get more involved in the defense of intellectual freedom, And, it will include fun trivia where members can win giveaways.

Call for nominations for the Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award

The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) Coalition Building Committee is accepting nominations for the 2021 Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award. Do you know of a state chapter or organization that has: