Intellectual Freedom 

Intellectual Freedom Round Table

The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) provides a forum for the discussion of activities, programs and problems in intellectual freedom of libraries and librarians; serves as a channel of communications on intellectual freedom matters; promotes a greater opportunity for involvement among the members of the ALA in defense of intellectual freedom; promotes a greater feeling of responsibility in the implementation of ALA policies on intellectual freedom.

Book Repair Manual 

From Preservation Services, Dartmouth College Library, A Simple Book Repair Manual

Love is in the air 

{pictureRef(, align:"right")} It's Library Lovers' Month!!!

Library Lovers' Month is a month-long celebration of school, public, and private libraries of all types. This is a time for everyone, especially library support groups, to recognize the value of libraries and to work to assure that the Nation's libraries will continue to serve.

How To Love Your Library

Take A Librarian To Lunch

Renovation? 

CENTRAL LIBRARY FIX-UP: Critics say 'weeding' more like clear-cutting by Charles Yoo

Hundreds of books and periodicals are being removed from shelves at the Atlanta-Fulton Central Library downtown.

The items are going as part of a $3.1 million renovation of the library that calls for adding materials and computers, according to library officials.

Some folks, however, are angry at the change. They say the removal is butchery of the library's collection by a tyrannical administration. [read more]

Oh, the horror! 

Stephen King ready to close book as writer?

Is Stephen King hanging it up?

The prolific King of Horror said as much in an interview in Sunday's Los Angeles Times.

After he publishes five more books, two of which already are scheduled for 2002 -- including a collection of short stories -- as well as work on a limited series for ABC, he's ending his career in publishing, he said.

"Then that's it. I'm done. Done writing books," he told the Times' Kim Murphy.

Why? he was asked.

"You get to a point where you get to the edges of a room, and you can go back and go where you've been and basically recycle stuff," he said. [read more]

Digital Convergence or Collision? 

Read All About It! Newspapers Lose Web War by Clark Gilbert

Many newspapers saw the emergence of the Internet as an attack on their core business, and responded with online products of their own. Unfortunately, says HBS professor Clark Gilbert, the papers failed to take advantage of the Web as a unique medium. He discusses the implications of disruptive technology on the newspaper business with HBS Working Knowledge editor Sean Silverthorne in this e-mail interview. [read more]

Intellectual Freedom 

Resolution Reaffirming the Principles of Intellectual Freedom in the Aftermath of Terrorist Attacks

WHEREAS: Benjamin Franklin counseled this nation: "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety"; and

WHEREAS: "The American Library Association believes that freedom of expression is an inalienable human right, necessary to self-government, vital to the resistance of oppression, and crucial to the cause of justice, and further, that the principles of freedom of expression should be applied by libraries and librarians throughout the world" (Policy 53.1.12, "Universal Right to Free Expression"); now, THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED: that the American Library Association reaffirms the following principles, and:

Actively promotes dissemination of true and timely information necessary to the people in the exercise of their rights (Policy 53.8, "Libraries: An American Value");

Opposes government censorship of news media and suppression of access to unclassified government information (Policy 53.3, "Freedom to Read;" Policy 53.5, "Shield Laws");

Upholds a professional ethic of facilitating access to information, not monitoring access (Policy 53.1, "Library Bill of Rights;" Policy 53.1.17, "Intellectual Freedom Principles for Academic Libraries");

Encourages libraries and their staff to protect the privacy and confidentiality of the people¼s lawful use of the library, its equipment, and its resources (Policy 52.4, "Policy on Confidentiality of Library Records");

Affirms that tolerance of dissent is the hallmark of a free and democratic society (Policy 53.1.12, "Universal Right to Free Expression");

Opposes the misuse of governmental power to intimidate, suppress, coerce, or compel speech (Policy 53.4, "Policy on Governmental Intimidation;" Policy 53.6, "Loyalty Oaths"); and, BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED: that this resolution be forwarded to the President of the United States, to the Attorney General of the United States, and to both Houses of Congress.

Adopted by the ALA Council, January 23, 2002

Amen.

Newsstand 

Cites & Insights: Crawford at Large
February 2002: Vol. 2 No. 3