LACONI September Administrator's Meeting and Program

Intellectual Freedom: Why and How?

Sponsored by LACONI (Library Administrators Conference of Northern Illinois).

Date: Friday, September 18, 2009.
Location: Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library District, 19901 Stony Island Avenue, Lynwood, IL 60411 708/758-0090.

This presentation will cover the history of intellectual freedom in this country and examine which library policies deal with intellectual freedom. You may be surprised!

9:15 a.m. Coffee and Conversation
9:45 a.m. Business Meeting
10:00 a.m. Intellectual Freedom: Why and How? Presented by Sally Decker Smith
12:00 noon Lunch at Glenwood Oaks, located at 106 North Main Street, Glenwood, IL 60425

Sally Decker Smith has been at Indian Trails nearly 30 years, and in that time has pursued and shared many interests. She was a member of the Illinois Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee when they decided to take Intellectual Freedom training statewide, and was in Anaheim last year when the Committee accepted the Intellectual Freedom Round Table/ProQuest State and Regional Intellectual Freedom Award.

To reserve your seat, please return the LACONI Administrators registration form and checks in the amount of $25 to: C/O Kathy Parker, Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library District, 19901 Stony Island Avenue, Lynwood, IL 60411. Fax: 708/758-0106.

LACONI: Administrator's Section September Program

Intellectual Freedom: Why and How?

Sponsored by LACONI (Library Administrators Conference of Northern Illinois).

This presentation will cover the history of intellectual freedom in this country and examine which library policies deal with intellectual freedom.

Date: Friday, September 18, 2009
Location: Glenwood/Lynwood Public Library District, 19901 Stony Island Avenue, Lynwood, IL 60411 708/758-0090
Schedule:
9:15 a.m. Coffee and Conversation
9:45 a.m. Business Meeting
10:00 a.m. Intellectual Freedom: Why and How? Presented by Sally Decker Smith
12:00 noon Lunch at Glenwood Oaks, located at 106 North Main Street, Glenwood, IL 60425

Sally Decker Smith has been at Indian Trails nearly 30 years, and in that time has pursued and shared many interests. She was a member of the Illinois Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee when they decided to take Intellectual Freedom training statewide, and was in Anaheim last year when the committee accepted the Intellectual Freedom Round Table/ProQuest State and Regional Intellectual Freedom Award.

See the LACONI September flier for registration information.

New Curriculum Gives Students the Facts About Their Digital Rights and Responsibilities

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) recently launched its own Teaching Copyright curriculum and website to help educators give students the real story about their digital rights and responsibilities on the Internet and beyond.

The Copyright Alliance -- backed by the recording, broadcast, and software industries -- has given its curriculum the ominous title "Think First, Copy Later." This is just the latest example of copyright-focused educational materials portraying the use of new technology as a high-risk behavior. For example, industry materials have routinely compared downloading music to stealing a bicycle, even though many downloads are lawful, and making videos using short clips from other sources is treated as probably illegal even though many such videos are also lawful. EFF created Teaching Copyright as a balanced curriculum encouraging students to make full and fair use of technology that is revolutionizing learning and the exchange of information.

The Teaching Copyright curriculum is a detailed, customizable plan that connects students to contemporary issues related to the Internet and technology and includes guides to copyright law, including fair use and the public domain.

The Teaching Copyright curriculum was developed with the input of educators from across the U.S. and has been designed to satisfy components of standards from the International Society for Technology in Education and the California State Board of Education.

COPA Declared Unconstitutional By Appeals Court

On July 22, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals issued a unanimous opinion in ACLU v. Mukasey affirming the District Court and holding that the Child Online Protection Act (COPA) is unconstitutional. 

The court held that COPA is vague and over broad, and that it does not constitute the least restrictive means of protecting children. In reaching these conclusions, the court also confirmed that COPA does not apply to websites outside the United States.

COPA is the successor statute to the Communications Decency Act, which attempted to extend indecency rules to the Internet.

The complete opinion can be found here.  For more information about the ACLU's challenge to COPA, visit the website. 

Democracy in Action @ Batavia Public Library District

Yesterday (July 15th), I was fortunate to be one of about a 100 people that were able to experience the democratic process firsthand.

No, I’m not talking about who’s running for president or the workings (or non-workings) of Illinois state government. I am talking about the public hearing held July 15th at the Batavia Public Library on the reconsideration of the retention of a link on the Batavia Public Library District’s website.

The library board, ably led by President Randy Gibson, opened the hearing with a few comments about procedures, courtesy, and time limits. What followed was the most amazing debate as the audience heard from concerned parents, grandparents, students, college professors, lawyers, and others. Those desiring to speak were given 3 minutes to voice their opinion. The first to speak were Batavia Public Library District residents, alternating for and against viewpoints. Non-residents of the district followed with their comments.

As I listened to the passion each person expressed for the side of the issue they favored, I was struck by the fact that we can do this here…in America…in Illinois…in Batavia. You can’t do that everywhere, but you can here. How cool is that?

At the end of the hearing, I can’t say that I agreed with everything presented, but I respected those who spoke so eloquently. I also appreciated the time and preparation done by both the board and staff in providing everyone with the opportunity to be heard in an organized, unemotional way. The board even agreed to extend the length of the meeting to ensure that everyone had a chance to present their thoughts to the board.

Way to go, Batavia!

Banned Books Week Read-Out in Chicago

Banned Books Week Read-Out in Chicago September 29

To help promote the upcoming 2007 Banned Books Week Read-Out!
(September 29-October 6) the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom has produced a video featuring three of their star attractions-----Chris Crutcher, Robie Harris, and Carolyn Mackler-----inviting the world to join them in Chicago on Saturday,
29 September.  For more information about the Read-Out and the video, please visit the OIF blog at

http://blogs.ala.org/oif.php?title=banned_books_week_read_out_commercials&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

To see the video on YouTube, please visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYJ5lQIZyJU

You are invited to attend the Read-Out on Saturday, 29 September 2007 in Chicago.

How Not To Be the Library the Press Attacks

When you hear "I demand that you take that terrible book off the shelf!” do you run for cover, get angry, or give in?  Are there alternatives?  The Illinois Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Committee invites library staff and boards to a Defending Access Workshop coming soon to DLS. 

Defending Access with Confidence by Catherine Lord is a step-by-step program that takes participants through the history of intellectual freedom and the law, related policies, and approaches to challenges against intellectual freedom in the context of libraries. Utilizing this program, trainers will help participants understand their role in protecting the right to access in library settings and find alternative ways to satisfy patrons whenever possible.  To find a location near you and register for this program go to http://www.ila.org/events/reg_dawc.htm

Vote For Your Favorite Challenged Book!

Readers of all ages can vote for their favorite challenged book by visiting the I Read Banned Books website. Organized by age group, the books all have faced expulsion from U.S. schools and libraries in the last 25 years.  Votes will be tallied and announced Monday, October 2.

Report Challenged Materials

The following was received from the ALA OIF.

August 29, 2006

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom has seen a steady increase in reported book challenges in our libraries.  That is, until this year.  This year, for some unexplained reason, there have been fewer challenges reported to the office.  Our sense, based upon news reports, is that challenges continue to occur at a high level, yet they are not being reported.  Due to budget cutbacks, the OIF no longer subscribes to a clipping service that can provide this valuable information.  It is extremely important to our defense of Intellectual Freedom that the Association is able to track these challenges.  It is especially important as we approach Banned Books Week (September 23-30).  The data we gain through reported challenges help us prepare this program and understand the issues facing our members.

Please spread the word in your state and region that the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom would like to receive reports of all materials challenged in our libraries.  Reports--all kept confidential--can be made to ebyrne@ala.org or dstone@ala.org, or online at http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/challengesupport/reporting/challengedatabaseform.html.
Further information concerning challenges may be viewed on the OIF Web site at http://www.ala.org/oif/challengesupport.

Thank you for your help!

Kent Oliver
Chair, Intellectual Freedom Committee