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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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Dovi Mae Patino

Freedom to Read Foundation Announces 2018 Conable Conference Scholarship Recipient

CHICAGO — The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) has selected Dovi Mae Patino as the recipient of the 2018 Gordon M. Conable Conference Scholarship. The Conable Scholarship will cover Ms. Patino’s expenses to attend the 2018 Annual Conference of the...

Shannon Oltmann appointed editor of the ‘Journal of Intellectual Freedom and Privacy’

CHICAGO - Shannon M. Oltmann, associate professor in the School of Information Science at the University of Kentucky, has been appointed editor of the Journal of Intellectual Freedom and Privacy, effective May 7, 2018. Oltmann holds a Ph.D. from Indiana...

Intellectual Freedom Round Table Raffle

Win Literary Prizes, Support Intellectual Freedom at ALA Annual Conference

Would you like to support contributions made to intellectual freedom on a personal level? And in the process come away with some great prizes? The Intellectual Freedom Round Table is pleased to announce an exciting raffle at its breakfast fundraiser on...

The Freedom to Read Foundation Announces Results of 2018 Board of Trustees Election

Last week the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) announced the results of the 2018 election for the Board of Trustees. The following candidates will join the FTRF Board of Trustees following the June Freedom to Read Foundation meeting in New Orleans...

New Issue of the ‘Journal of Intellectual Freedom and Privacy’ Now Available Online

CHICAGO — The new issue of the Journal of Intellectual Freedom and Privacy (JIFP), Vol. 2, No.3-4, is now live and available to subscribers online. Subscribers can view it on the JIFP homepage or on its contents page. Featured content includes: “False...

Intellectual freedom breakfast at ALA Annual Conference welcomes New Orleans journalist

The ALA Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) will host an Awards Recognition and Fundraising Breakfast on Saturday, June 23, 2018 from 7:30 – 9 a.m. at the 2018 ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans. The breakfast will celebrate IFRT award winners and...

Robert P. Doyle

Robert P. Doyle receives 2018 Eli M. Oboler Memorial Award for banned books resource guide

The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) has awarded the 2018 Eli M. Oboler Memorial Award, which recognizes the best published work in the area of intellectual freedom. The 2018 award goes to Robert P. Doyle, for his work " Banned Books: Defending our...

Lindsey Whittington Receives Immroth Award

Lindsey Whittington Receives Immroth Award

The ALA Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) Immroth Awards Committee is pleased to announce Lindsey Whittington as ALA’s recipient for this year’s John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award, which honors significant contributions defending intellectual...

Nebraska Library Association Intellectual Freedom Round Table receives the Gerald Hodges Award

NLA Intellectual Freedom Round Table receives the 2017 Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award

The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) of the American Library Association (ALA) announces that the Nebraska Library Association Round Table for Intellectual Freedom is the 2017 recipient of the Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations...

Intellectual Freedom Bloggers

Meet the 2018 Intellectual Freedom Bloggers!

On Monday, we flip the calendars to 2018; we resolve to change our lifestyles for the better; and we welcome a new slate of intellectual freedom advocates to share opinions and knowledge about a core value of the librarian profession. The Intellectual...

Robert P. Doyle

Robert P. Doyle is granted the 2017 John Philip Immroth Memorial Award

The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) of the American Library Association (ALA) announces that Robert P. Doyle is the recipient of the 2017 John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award. The Immroth Award recognizes Doyle’s defense of intellectual freedom in...

Oregon Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee receives the 2017 Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award

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

Call for nominations for the Gerald Hodges IF Chapter Relations Award

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) is seeking nominations for its 2017 Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award. The Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award...

Intellectual freedom nominations for the John Philip Immroth Memorial Award due soon

CHICAGO —The deadline for nominations for the John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award is Dec . 1, 2016. The Immroth Award honors intellectual freedom fighters in and outside the library profession who have demonstrated remarkable personal courage in resisting...

John Philip Immroth

Jarrett Dapier receives the 2016 John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award

The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) of the American Library Association (ALA) announces that Jarrett Dapier is the recipient of the 2016 John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award. In March 2013, students took to the streets to protest the order issued...