morgan lee portfolio 2

8/3/2019 Morgan Lee Portfolio 2

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INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM


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WHAT IS INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM

Intellectual freedom accords to all the right to

seek and receive information on all subjects fromall points of view without restriction and withouthaving the subject of one's interest examined orscrutinized by others. (American Library Assoc.)

The greatest opponent to intellectual freedom iscensorship


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CENSORSHIP

The American Library Association defines

censorship as the suppression ofideas andinformation that certain personsindividuals,groups or government officialsfind objectionableor dangerous.

These objectionable ideas can be in the form ofbooks, music, plays, film and television, speeches,teacher lectures, art, websites, etc.

At some point in history all of these forms ofexpression have been prey to censorship.


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THINK OF THE CHILDREN

Some of the most heavily censored materials are

childrens books. There is a long history of censorshipin childrens lit. Some of the most memorable books tobe censored are:

Where the Wild Things Are

Are You There, God? Its Me, Margaret Lord of the Flies

And just about every title that even remotely dealswith sexeven if just in an informative way.


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SOCIAL ISSUES ARE RED FLAGS FOR

CENSORS (SCALES)Recent targets of

censorship inchildren's lit havebeen books thataddress the latest hot-button social issues.

Specifically booksthat offend Christianor conservativesensibilities

Examples of such titles

include: Every book in the Harry

Potterseries

The Golden Compass(purported to espouseanti-religion ideals)

Killing Mr. Griffin(forviolence)

Shattering Glass(alsofor violence)


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THE MOST RECENT BACKLASH HAS BEEN AGAINST CHILDRENS LITWITH HOMOSEXUAL THEMES. SOME OF THE TITLES TO COME

UNDER THE MOST FIRE IN THE LAST TEN YEARS INCLUDE:


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LIBRARIES AND INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM

So, where do libraries factor into all of this discussion of

intellectual freedom and censorship? According to GordonConable , former chair of the Intellectual Freedom Committee ofthe ALA, A public librarian cannot remain unconcerned, but mustunderstand the nature of censorship, the motives of censors, andwhat yielding to them means.

Libraries and librarians cannot simply hope that society willeventually become enlightened and censorship will become athing of the past. They have to know how it affects them andwhat they can and must do about it.


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LIBRARYS RESPONSIBILITY TO PATRONS IN

REGARDS TO INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM

American public libraries flourish out of a commitment to the principlethat knowledge and access to information empower the individual.Libraries embody the firm belief that information must not be theexclusive province of a privileged few and that it should be widely andfreely available to all. (Conable)

The public library is the largest repository of human thought, intellect,and expression. It is the responsibility of libraries to make these ideasand expressions available to patrons regardless of whether they are, atthe time, unpopular with certain groups.

For the most part, libraries recognize this responsibility and take itseriously.


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LIBRARYS RESPONSIBILITY TO PATRONS IN

REGARDS TO INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM (CONT.)

As a result of library efforts, books are seldom banned and removedfrom libraries, but they may be restricted or moved to another section(Falk-Ross).

Even restricting or moving questionable materials to a more obscuresection of the library, though, goes against the patrons right to have

easy and unrestricted access to the materials and services the libraryhas to offer.

Unfortunately, many times librarians hands are tied when comes to what

the government decides is best for the people. This is why is important

for librarys to set up committees like the Intellectual FreedomCommitteeso that they can stay abreast of current regulations anddetermine how best to continue to fulfill their own mission statements,while appearing to bend to the will of the governing bodies.


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INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM COMMITTEE

H I S T O R Y

The ALA established the IFC in1940, one year after it adoptedthe Library Bill of Rights.

The Intellectual Freedom

Committee (IFC) consists of a11 members who areappointed by the CouncilCommittee on Committees, incooperation with the ALApresident-elect. Membersserve 2-year terms and are led

by the chair.

M I S S I O NS T A T E M E N T

The IFCs main purpose is to"recommend such steps asmay be necessary tosafeguard the rights of libraryusers in accordance with theLibrary Bill of Rights, asadopted by Council (ALA).

The IFC is concerned withpolicies against intellectualfreedom that could potentiallyviolate the Library Bill ofRights.


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INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AND THE PUBLICWHAT RIGHTS DO INDIVIDUALS HAVE CONCERNING THEIR FREEDOM TO HAVE

ACCESS TO FREE EXPRESSION?

According to the Library Bill of Rights, adopted in 1939: Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest,

information, and enlightenment of all people of the community thelibrary serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin,background, or views of those contributing to their creation

Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points

of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not beproscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval

Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of theirresponsibility to provide information and enlightenment

Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with

resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.


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INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AND THE PUBLIC

(CONT)

According to the third and fourth amendments of the LBR, peoplehave a right to expect their libraries to go to bat for them concerningtheir right to free and uncensored expression.

However, the fourth amendment puts more responsibility in thehands of the general public as well. This amendment states that the

library should cooperate with those seeking to challenge censorship.This implies that people have to actively resist censorship in orderfor the library to back them up.

It is both our right and our responsibility as citizens of a democracyto challenge censorship whenever and wherever it arises.


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CENSORSHIP, THE INTERNET, AND LIBRARIES

One of the biggest debates in censorship to erupt in the last twenty

years has been to what extent to censor internet access in publiclibraries.

Whether to do it has not really been the issue as it was deemednecessary pretty early on by the powers that be.

Still, filtering is a practice that has been heavily contested by proponentsof free expression and unrestricted access to ideas. No one hascontested this practice more than libraries.


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INTERNET FILTERING

H I S T O R Y

Began in the late 90s

Brought about by theChildrens InternetProtection Act

CIPA is a federal law thatrequires all computers in apublic library to be filtered ifthat library accepts anyfederal funds for computersthat access the Internet orthe costs associated withthe connection to theInternet. It took effect on

July 1, 2004 (InternetFiltering)

Designed to keep childrenfrom accessing potentiallyharmful (morally, mentallyand physically) informationon the web.

H O W I T W O R K S

Filters operate on asystem of categories.

The library's filteradministrator utilizes thecategories to build filterprofiles. " The children's

filter profile wouldundoubtedly block the"sexually explicit" contentas well as othercategories deemedinappropriate for childrensuch as "hate," "firearms,"and "violence."

The filter companydecides how each site willbe categorized(InfoPeople)


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BACKLASH AGAINST FILTERING

Many libraries fought the law stating that it violates firstamendment rights to freedom of information.

Some libraries refused to install internet filters and insteadrelinquished some government funds that they were receiving fromthe Childrens Internet Protection Act.

Many libraries compromised by only filtering some computers. For

example, all of the computers in the Childrens library sectionmight be filtered and it would fall to staff to make sure that childrenare confined to that section when using a computer.

The most important thing libraries can do is be open and honestabout their filtering practices. People are much less inclined to feel

cheated when they are made aware of such practices up front.


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WRAPPIN IT UP

Ray Bradbury wrote Fahrenheit 451 as a reaction to actual book burning

that was going on in Europe during the Nazi regime. It offended himespecially because he educated himself in libraries. He couldnt afford to

go to college so he went to the library.

I can completely identify with Bradbury. I dropped out of high schoolafter the 9th grade due to some family issues. I also educated myself in

the public library. I spent five days a week, from opening to closing, inthe back of the library devouring everything I could get my hands on. Iread literature, drama, science, history, politics, law, poetry, just abouteverything. Half the books I read could have easily been targets forcensorship at one time or another. I cant even imagine how different my

perspective of the world would be had I not had free and unrestricted

access to that wealth of knowledge. It was the library that made it allpossible.

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