1. Intellectual Freedom vs. Social Responsibility

2. Intellectual Freedom – Definition
Rubin describes intellectual freedom as dealing with
“protecting the free flow of ideas or information. It is based on the fundamental belief that the health of a society is maintained and improved when ideas can be created and disseminated without governmental, political, or social impediments.”

3. Intellectual Freedom vs. Social Responsibility
Librarians should be aware of the debate between intellectual freedom and social responsibility and should try to “strike a balance” between them
Librarians are the gatekeepers of information in their libraries
Libraries are a forum for ideas
Intellectual freedom is important for maintaining a democratic society
However, librarians should be aware of the reasons to restrict certain types of information

4. Reasons for encouraging access to materials
Encouraging free access to information
Educating children
Upholding professional values in libraries

5. Encouraging free access to information
Encouraging access supports the first amendment of the U.S. constitution for free speech
Protects the right for people to express themselves
Presenting different ideas, rather than restraining them, is essential for a democratic society

6. Encouraging free access to information (cont.)
People need information from different viewpoints to make informed decisions
People decide which information they will use
Information may include those that may not be completely accurate
ALA states that libraries are “forums for information and ideas”

7. Educating children
Some people believe that children should be exposed to different ideas, since that will allow them to develop intellectually
Others believe that children should be restricted in their access to materials, so they may have desirable values instilled in them

8. Educating children (cont.)
ALA does not believe that libraries should deny patrons access to library services because of their age
ALA Bill of Rights article V
“A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views”

9. Educating children (cont.)
ALA says that children have the rights covered by U.S. constitution’s first amendment and that they should be able to access information in the library
Parents are responsible for their children’s access to information

10. Upholding professional values in libraries
Librarians should choose materials by using professional judgment, rather than choosing by personal preferences
The ALA Bill of Rights article II
“Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.”

11. Opposing Viewpoint Books
Every book describes both sides of a particular topic
Topics include child welfare, genetic engineering, and the war on drugs

12. Upholding professional values in libraries (cont.)
By upholding intellectual freedom values, librarians can defend against challenges to the selection of the materials

13. Reasons for limiting access to materials
Following personal values
Maintaining the community’s values
Ensuring that the library will continue to exist
Protecting children

14. Following personal values
Librarians may still use their personal values to make decisions
For example, librarians may not want to obtain materials that encourages bigotry or that are very inaccurate

15. Maintaining the community’s values
Librarians may want to follow the community’s values
Librarians view themselves as being a part of the community
They may not think obtaining materials with ideas that are significantly different from those values is appropriate

16. Maintaining the community’s values (cont.)
Librarians may think that the materials they purchase should meet the community’s wants and needs and that buying materials that go against community values would create needless conflict

17. Ensuring that the library will continue to exist
Librarians may fear that libraries may lose community support if they have objectionable materials
Unsatisfied patrons may protest the libraries
Libraries are funded by public money
They need public support to keep operating

18. Protecting Children
Libraries may not necessarily follow intellectual freedom principles to protect children
Children are easily influenced
So libraries may want to restrict children’s access to certain materials

19. Library Functions Affected by Intellectual Freedom
Collection management
Selecting materials
Deselecting (or “weeding”) materials
Cataloging and classification
How materials are classified
Where the books are physically located

20. Library Functions Affected by Intellectual Freedom (cont.)
Reference services
Developing policies
Administrative policies
Developing policies relating to materials and patron’s privacy

21. Issues to Consider for Selecting Materials
Labeling
Obscenity
Racism
Balance
Illegal acts
Reliability of information
Popularity
Likelihood of being stolen

22. Resources about Intellectual Freedom
ALA Statements and Policies
ALA Library Bill of Rights
ALA Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights
ALA Freedom to Read Statement
ALA Freedom to View Statement

23. Resources about Intellectual Freedom (cont.)
Intellectual Freedom Manual