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INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM

BANNING BOOKS GIVE US SILENCE WHEN WE NEED SPEECH. IT CLOSES OUR EARS WHEN WE NEED TO LISTEN. IT MAKES US BLIND WHEN WE NEED SIGHT. 

-Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky, 1990

For support, contact the Intellectual Freedom Committee at intellectualfreedom@molib.org

MLA IFC TRAINING MATERIALS

ALL TRAINING MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE MLA MEMBERSHIP. PLEASE EMAIL US FOR THE LINKS. WE ALWAYS WELCOME FEEDBACK OR SUGGESTIONS FOR BETTER THE CONTENT AND UPDATING OUR PRACTICAL & EVERYDAY SCENARIOS, PLEASE EMAIL THE IFC CHAIR WITH ANY COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE COMMITTEE. 

THE IFC IS AVAILABLE TO FACILITATE ONE, TWO, OR THREE-HOUR WORKSHOPS.

PLEASE EMAIL THE IFC CHAIR FOR SCHEDULING AND ANY QUESTIONS. 

Scenario Decks 1, 2, 3, 4


Review on our IF training:

So, one of my last acts as library director here, was to ask the Intellectual Freedom committee from MLA to come and do a shortened version of their workshop on intellectual freedom for our board and staff. It is a wonderful opportunity to communicate what seems to be a very complex and complicated concept and make it understandable and easily applicable to everyday library life. So that when you get someone who might be belligerent or aggressive to your front-line staff, they have the tools to respond calmly, consistently, and without personal judgements. I, and the new library director, took the three-hour workshop at MLA, because it all sounds very intimidating when you first start out, and you feel like you don't even understand what half those concepts mean. I strongly recommend the workshop. Four of my five board members texted me before I had even gotten home to tell me how beneficial they felt it was. It presents ways to be proactive when a situation arises, instead of reactive, to turn a negative situation into a positive response and maybe even gain an ally, instead of someone who is antagonistic toward libraries and librarians.

Judy Garrett, Library Director

December 2023

ALA and IF Support Links:

DIRECT LINKS TO ALA INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM GUIDING DOCUMENTS

THE MLA IFC

Duties:

  • Monitor legislation and other efforts that affect first amendment rights to libraries, librarians, and their clientele. 
  • Encourage libraries to protect those rights by:
    1. Adopting ALA's Freedom to Read Statement, Library Bill of Rights, and other statements adopted by the American Library Association and endorsed by the Missouri Library Association. 
    2. Adopting selection and collection development policies that protect against challenges. 
    3. Providing training opportunities with regard to intellectual freedom issues. 
  • Support and implement the MLA Statement on Intellectual Freedom. 
  • Assist and support MLA members in intellectual freedom concerns as requested. 

Duties outlined in the MLA Handbook

2024 Intellectual Freedom Committee Chair – Casey Phillips (intellectualfreedom@molib.org)

TEST


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