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April 9, 2026

ALA and AFSCME Prevail in Fight to Protect Libraries and Museums Nationwide

On April 9, 2026, the American Library Association (ALA) – the largest library association in the world – and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) – the nation’s largest union of cultural workers – reached a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice that protects the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and ensures the agency will continue carrying out its congressionally mandated work.

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New wave of bills targeting libraries is ‘a threat to our democracy,’ American Library Association warns

The association, founded in 1876, condemned legislation that would threaten librarians and other educators with criminal prosecution for possessing “obscene” material.
 

 

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FTRF Hosts Webinar on Collecting and Protecting LGBTQ+ Materials and Programs

Public and school libraries experience the most challenges to materials, and in 2019 eight out of the top ten most challenged books were on that list for having LGBTQ+ content. While some schools and libraries were or are physically closed due to the...

Freedom to Read Foundation Announces Recipients of Fall 2020 Intellectual Freedom Course Scholarships

Amanda Barnhart, chair of the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) Education Committee, announced four scholarship recipients who will receive funding toward an intellectual freedom course at FTRF partner institution San Jose State University (SJSU) this...

Connecticut Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee receives the 2020 Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award

The Intellectual Freedom Round Table of the American Library Association is pleased to announce that the Connecticut Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee is the 2020 recipient of the Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award...

Freedom to Read Foundation Launches Webinar Series

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) will be conducting a webinar series over the next few months to provide online education focused on intellectual freedom for library professionals. These webinars will be geared towards librarians, library students...

Henry Reichman

Henry Reichman Receives IFRT Oboler Memorial Award

The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) announced Henry Reichman as the recipient of the 2020 Eli M. Oboler Memorial Award ⁠— which recognizes the best published work in the area of intellectual freedom ⁠— for his book " The Future of Academic Freedom...

Rebecca Ginsburg Receives Immroth Award

The American Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) Immroth Award Committee is pleased to announce Rebecca Ginsburg as the recipient of the 2020 John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award, which honors significant contributions defending...

The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) Coalition Building Committee is accepting nominations for the 2020 Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award.

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

Do you know of a state chapter or organization that has: bravely defended the freedom to read or access information; successfully promoted intellectual freedom issues; or demonstrated exemplary coalition-building efforts? The Intellectual Freedom Round...

IFRT Eli M. Oboler Award

IFRT accepting nominations for 2020 Eli M. Oboler Memorial Award

The Eli M. Oboler Memorial Award committee is seeking nominations for the 2020 award. The award honors a literary work or series of works in the area of intellectual freedom. This can include matters of ethical, political, or social concerns related to...

Image Comics is teaming up with ALA’s GNCRT and IFRT to celebrate #BannedBooksWeek

Image Comics is celebrating Banned Books Week with the ALA Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table and the ALA Intellectual Freedom Round Table by producing a week of Library Livestream webinars featuring creators and librarians in conversation on a number...

Immroth Award

Nominations open for 2020 IFRT John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award

The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) is accepting nominations for the 2020 John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award. This award, presented annually, honors notable contributions to intellectual freedom and demonstrations of personal courage in defense...

ALA urges LinkedIn Learning to reconsider changes to terms of service that impair library users’ privacy rights

CHICAGO - LinkedIn Learning — formerly Lynda.com, a platform used by libraries to provide online learning opportunities to library users — plans to make substantial changes to its terms of service that would significantly impair library users’ privacy...

IFRT video series screen shots

IFRT Emerging Leader Videos Engage Non-Librarians

ALA’s Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) is pleased to announce the publication of four videos to engage non-librarians in the fight to protect intellectual freedom. The brief explainer videos cover the basics of intellectual freedom, censorship, and...

Congratulations Utah Library Association

Utah Library Association receives the 2019 Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award

The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) of the American Library Association (ALA) announces that the Utah Library Association is the 2019 recipient of the Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award. The Utah Library Association (ULA)...

laurie-halse-anderson_wide-9ea62531706176dbf10bc0cd93fbdf4f6a4151d3.jpg

Laurie Halse Anderson joins Colson Whitehead in 'Reading Dangerously' at the Freedom to Read Foundation’s 50th Anniversary Celebration

CHICAGO — New York Times bestselling author and intellectual freedom advocate Laurie Halse Anderson will speak at the Freedom to Read Foundation’s 50th Anniversary Celebration in Washington, D.C. on June 22, 2019. Anderson, recipient of the 2009 Margaret...

book cover for Beyond Banned Books: Defending Intellectual Freedom throughout Your Library

Beyond banned books

CHICAGO — Equitable access to information for all, including underserved populations, is a core value of librarianship. The growing awareness of where this inequality persists has led many professionals to take steps to advance social justice within their...