2. ALA Freedom to Read
Statement
“There is no place in our society for efforts to
coerce the taste of others, to confine adults to
the reading matter deemed suitable for
adolescents, or to inhibit the efforts of writers to
achieve artistic expression.”
3. Debi Cheek: eBooks and Access
Zach English: Internet Censorship- An International
Perspective
Robin Shader: Challenges
Alyse Ergood: Librarians‟ Intellectual Freedom and
Rights
Sara Gonzalez, Moderator
Panelists and Moderator
4. Debi Cheek
Debi earned her MLIS from the University of
South Florida. She has worked as both a K-12
Media Specialist and an Academic Librarian.
Currently, she works as an adjunct professor for
Rasmussen College teaching Introduction to
Undergraduate Research. Additionally, she is
working on her doctorate in Educational
Technology at Florida Gulf Coast University.
5. Zach English
Zach English is the Director of Library Services for
Everglades University. He has worked and interned in
academic libraries for three years, including libraries at
Hillsborough Community College, Keiser University and
Everglades University. He earned his Master of Arts
degree in Library and Information Science from the
University of South Florida, and his Bachelor of Arts in
Philosophy from the University of Central Florida. He is a
member of the Palm Beach County Library
Association, the Florida Library Association, and the
Southeast Florida Library Information Network (SEFLIN).
He has served on FLA‟s Intellectual Freedom Committee
for two years, and has also written for FLA‟s Media
Clippings blog and Florida Libraries journal. His interest in
intellectual freedom issues comes from a belief that the
rights to pursue knowledge and to express oneself are
core human rights.
6. Robin Shader
Robin Shader is the Director of the Northwest
Regional Library System, serving Bay, Gulf, and
Liberty Counties, Florida. She is a New Jersey
native and received her MLS from Rutgers
University. Robin has worked in public libraries in
New Jersey, Georgia and Florida for the past 15
years. She has published articles in School Library
Journal, ALA's Applied Professional Association‟s
Library Worklife, and has two essays in the book
Library Management Tips that Work published in
2011 by ALA Editions. Robin is a member of the
American Library Association Intellectual Freedom
Committee and is the Chair of the FLA Intellectual
Freedom Committee.
7. Alyse Ergood
Alyse Ergood is an Associate University Librarian in the
Reference and Instruction Department at Florida Atlantic
University (FAU) in Boca Raton. She is the social sciences
librarian, and is a subject specialist in nursing, languages
and linguistics, and anthropology to name a few. After
receiving her MLIS from the University of South Florida in
2006, Alyse became very active on a variety of library and
university committees. She is currently the Vice-
Chair/President Elect of the PBCLA, and a member of
various committees in SEFLIN and the ALA‟s New Member
Roundtable (NMRT). Alyse has published and presented
on various topics including marketing, emerging
technologies, and creating online tutorials. Her research
interests include online education, intellectual freedom,
emerging technologies, and various topics within the social
sciences. Alyse is working on her Master‟s degree in
Social Work at FAU.
8. ALA Censorship and
Challenges
A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict
materials, based upon the objections of a person
or group. A banning is the removal of those
materials. Challenges do not simply involve a
person expressing a point of view; rather, they
are an attempt to remove material from the
curriculum or library, thereby restricting the
access of others.
9. ALA Freedom to Read
Statement
It is in the public interest for publishers and
librarians to make available the widest diversity
of views and expressions, including those that
are unorthodox, unpopular, or considered
dangerous by the majority.
16. E-Books & Print Disabled
Patrons
“(The) blind and other print-disabled
users, for the first time in history, gain
access to the same books and
publications at the same price and at
the same time as the rest of society”
(Mason, 2012, pp. 18-19).
.
18. E-Book Options
• iOS – Available with Apple Products
• VoiceOver Option
• Connect Blue-tooth enabled Braille display
• Kindle
• Very limited accessibility (Kindle Fire)
• Many books don‟t offer text-to-talk feature
either
• NOOK & Sony Reader
• Not accessible
19.
20. Access & the Law
NFB v. Free Library of Philadelphia (Enis &
Schwartz, 2012)
Pilot program Nook
Patrons 50+ could check out reader
Used Federal Funds to purchase
No Text-to-Speech
Violated Section 504 Rehabilitation Act & Title II
ADA
NFB & Dept. of Justice v. Sacramento Public
Library
Nook lending
Violated ADA
21. Other Options to Assist
Print Disabled Patrons
• LEAP : Available at no cost
for libraries who have a
relationship with Overdrive.
Registered patrons will
have access to
BookShare, a separate
collection of books and
magazines in DAISY &
22. Where did my e-book go?
Clipart from: Operation Awesome
23. Digital Rights Management
(DRM) & Material Access
Type of device
Print, copy or download
restrictions
Publisher Restrictions
Vendor Restrictions
25. Threats to Internet
Expression
Cyber-crime
Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement
Protecting against obscenity and harmful content
Filters in school and library computers
Intellectual property
Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)
Protect IP Act (PIPA)
Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive
(IPRED)
National security
WikiLeaks
26. ACLU‟s “Don‟t Filter Me”
Project
Viewpoint-neutral content in
public schools
2000: Children‟s Internet
Protection Act (CIPA)
Web-filtering software
categorizes content
Problems with allowing
removal of filters on a case-
by-case basis
2012: PFLAG v. Camdenton
R-III School District
URL Blacklist
27. Social Media and Social
Protests
Social media sites like Twitter, Facebook
and YouTube have facilitated more
dissident social organizing internationally
With progress has also come attempts to
censor:
Being required to give up your email and
Facebook passwords
Government ownership of Internet Service
Providers
Governments hiring people to seed the
Internet with pro-regime content
Filtering and spying
28. Reporters without Borders‟ 2012
“Enemies of the Internet” Report
Egypt: Cut Internet access for five days during the height
of protests in January 2011.
Iran and Syria: Slow Internet speeds to a crawl so that
photos and videos cannot be transmitted.
Uzbekistan, Belarus, China: Block access to social
media sites during times of social protest.
Thailand: A news editor faces a 20-year jail sentence for
failing to withdraw comments posted on a news website.
Russia arrests bloggers and creates cyber-attacks to
shut down websites that are critical of the government.
29. Companies Providing
Filtering Technology
Repressive regimes use
Western companies to
filter websites and spy
on Internet users
Syria uses BlueCoat
(U.S.) and AreaSpa
(France)
The European
Parliament‟s resolution
(2012)
Congressional
30. A Threat of Internet
Fragmentation
Internet sovereignty
2010: Burma created a
national Web
Iran is working to create an
Islamic “halal” version of the
Web
Several countries restrict
access to local intranets
Threat to the idea of the Web
as global village
31. International Anti-Censorship
Rulings and Response
European Court of
Justice ruling: SABAM
v. Scarlet (2012)
ISPs can‟t be asked to
filter
UN Human Rights
Council statement
(2012)
Hacktivists
33. ACLU vs. Davis County School
District
Parents of a kindergarten student challenged the book because
it "normalizes a lifestyle we don't agree with.“
The District Library Media Committee cited a UT sex education
law prohibiting “advocacy of homosexuality” in curriculum
materials and ordered the book placed behind the desk and
made available only with a permission slip.
ACLU filed a lawsuit (11-13-12) on behalf of two students and
their mother. The complaint alleged that the "primary
justification for removing the book from the shelves is that, by
telling the story
Prior to answering the complaint the Utah Attorney General's office informed ACLU
that the book would be returned to open shelves and the School District agreed not
to use "advocacy of homosexuality" as a basis for removing books.
of children raised by same-sex parents, the book constitutes 'advocacy of
homosexuality,' in purported violation of Utah's sex-education laws."
34. Board of Education v. Pico
Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District No. 26 v.
Pico, 457 U.S. 853, 102 S.Ct. 2799, 73 L.Ed.2d 435 (1982)
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brennan declared in a plurality
opinion: "Local school boards may not remove books from school
library shelves simply because they dislike the ideas contained in
those books and seek their removal to „prescribe what shall be
orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of
opinion.‟ "
"If petitioners intended by their removal decision to deny
respondents access to ideas with which petitioners disagreed, and
if this intent was the decisive factor in the petitioners‟ decision, then
petitioners have exercised their discretion in violation of the
Constitution."
35. Preparing for Challenges
Discuss concerns with patrons; in many cases a
formal reconsideration can be avoided.
Make sure you have a collection management plan
specifying criteria for adding and removing materials.
Make sure you have a clear reconsideration process.
Plans/policies should be adopted by your governing
board and periodically reviewed/reaffirmed.
Regularly train staff and library board members on
library policies/processes and the principles behind
them.
Educate the community as much as possible on
intellectual freedom issues.
37. Why Protect?
To maintain and uphold freedoms
First Amendment: Freedom of Religion and
Press
Fourth Amendment: Guards against
unreasonable searchers and seizures (U.S.
Constitution)
To uphold the Library Bill of Rights and
advocate for our patrons and our services
38. Intellectual Freedom
One‟s right to self-expression and the right to
access information both fall under Intellectual
Freedom.
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Copyright:
www.thewritingnut.com
39. How to Protect Intellectual
Freedom
Become involved in creating the mission and
vision of larger entity that library is a part of.
Ensure that library policy, mission, and vision align
with the Library Bill of Rights.
It all comes back to justifying support of Library Bill of
Rights.
Bridge the divide and engage with policy and
decision makers, including administrators
Understand and communicate with the key
players (Board of
Trustees, Legislature, Administration and so forth)
Jones, B.M., 2009).
40. How?
Engage in academic and intellectual groups
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41. How to Protect Intellectual
Freedom
Self-educate and know your rights (or not)
regarding your computer files, emails, reference
appointments, calls, and computer and other
equipment
Educate others about the importance of
intellectual freedom, such as your IT Personnel
and garner support on campus for intellectual
freedom (Jones, B.M., 2009).
Advocate, Advocate, Advocate
For
self, patrons, colleagues, freedom, access, equality
42. Self-Censorship
Where can it be seen?
Acquisitions (electronic and print)
Weeding
Selection of items displayed (or not) for book
and varied exhibits
Classes/Workshops
Work Presentations
Expression overall
43. Why and how is this possible?
Unconscious
Perceived or real lack of support
Fear of backlash or reprimand
Financial/Budget
Cyclical (or Top down)
Culture of a particular library or type of
library, etc.
Perpetuate status-quo
44. How to prevent?
Create a transparent environment(s) when
possible
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45. How to prevent?
Be honest with your self and others
Analyze your motives
Reflect on your actions or lack of
Remember your focus
Copyright: www.askville.amazon.com
47. Boundary Between Personal
and Professional Blurry
Social Media (webpage, blog, twitter, non-
related personal Facebook pages and
postings)
Research/Publications
Presentations
Grant and other applications
48. Who Protects Our Rights to
Intellectual Freedom
ALA (American Library Association)
ALA-APA (American Library Association Allied
Professional Association)
American Association for University Professors (Private
academic libraries)
ACRL (Association for College and Research
Librarians)
FEA (Florida Education Association) or other agency
UFF (United Faculty of Florida Union) or other union
United States Constitution and Bill of Rights
United States Courts
49. Conclusion
“Scholarship cannot flourish in an atmosphere
of suspicion and distrust. Teachers and
student must always remain free to inquire, to
study and to evaluate, to gain new maturity
and understanding; otherwise our civilization
will stagnate and die”(Jones, B.M., 2009, p.
17).
51. Enis, M. & Schwartz, M. (2012, October 25). Free library of
Philadelphia resolves NOOK accessibility lawsuit. The Digital
Shift. Retrieved from http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2012/
10/hardware-2/free-library-of-philadelphia-resolves-nook-
accessibility-lawsuit/
Mason, A. (2012). Mainstream access to e-books: What works,
what doesn't, and what is still unclear. Future Reflections, 31(2),
18-24.
References- eBooks
52. Challenge and IF Resources
FLA Intellectual Freedom Manual, http://www.flalib.org/int_Freedom_Manual.php
FLA Executive Director, Faye Roberts, faye.roberts@comcast.net, 386-438-5795
FLA Intellectual Freedom Committee Chair, Robin Shader, rshader@nwrls.com
FLA Readers‟ Rights and Privacy member group
ALA Intellectual Freedom Manual, www.ifmanual.org
ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, oif@ala.org, 800-545-2433 x4223
Resources at www.ala.org/challengereporting
53. Librarians' References
Jones, B.M. (2009). Protecting Intellectual Freedom in Your Academic Library:
Scenarios from the Front Lines. Chicago: American Library Association.
Moody, K. (2010). Covert censorship in libraries. Australian Library Journal, 54.
Retrieved from http://www.alia.org.au/publishing/alj/54.2/full.text/moody.html.
O‟neil, R. (2008). Academic Freedom in the Wired World. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard
University Press.
Notas do Editor
www.ala.org
Copyright: www.jenniferdefrancisco.com
Your opinions are protected regardless of where you work…just not necessarily by where you work