• HTML | PDF ..... From the Editor, Doug Archer
• HTML | PDF ..... Religion and Intellectual Freedom, Chicago 2005, Doug Archer
• HTML | PDF ..... Religion and Intellectual Freedom, Quotations, Doug Archer
• HTML | PDF ..... Teen Rights, Chicago 2005, Lindsey Young
• HTML | PDF ..... Councilor's Report, Chicago 2005, Carolyn Caywood
• HTML | PDF ..... IFRT Board Minutes, Chicago 2005, Carol Gulyas
• HTML | PDF ..... Merritt Fund Forum, San Antonio 2006, Jim Kuhn
• HTML | PDF ..... Selected IF Sessions, San Antonio 2006, Doug Archer
• HTML | PDF ..... Native Perspectives, New Orleans 2006, Pam Klipsch
• HTML | PDF ..... Contributors
  
  
• HTML | PDF ..... Complete Issue for Continuous Printing

From the Editor

Doug Archer

Communications with and among our members is currently a hot topic for the IFRT Board. To get your input the Board will shortly send out a electronic survey to IFRT members. When you receive it, please take a few minutes to fill it out. It is really short and to the point, promise! In addition we are considering reorganizing things a bit to improve our communications by bringing all publications (e.g the IFRT Report) and communications (e.g. our list) under one committee. Please send us your suggestions.

Now, more than ever, is the time to speak up and speak out for intellectual freedom! Share your stories, news and opinions with your colleagues by sending them in to us for publication.

Religion and Intellectual Freedom, Chicago 2005

Doug Archer

Several hundred people attended the joint IF program in Chicago, a panel titled “Religion and Intellectual Freedom: Divine Revelation in the Marketplace of Ideas.” The two main speakers were Martin E. Marty, the Fairfax M. Cone Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus at the University of Chicago and Susan Jacoby, independent scholar and author of Free Thinkers: A History of American Secularism. Joining them as reactors were Mike Wessells, Timberland Regional Library System, and Doug Archer, University Libraries of Notre Dame. The latter are both intellectual freedom activists who are also ministers in their respective denominations.

Professor Marty began by cautioning the audience not to trust either the religious or the nonreligious when it comes to intellectual freedom. He followed this admonition by citing several historical examples of support and opposition to intellectual freedom from both points of view. Susan Jacoby, first noted her debt to America’s public libraries as an independent scholar and free thinker. She went on to stress the liberating value of free access to diverse library collections and the dangers of religiously motivated censorship to those collections.

Mike Wessells stressed the need for every library to contain a wide spectrum of views, values and attitudes even those which are personally offensive to us as citizens and librarians while Doug Archer emphasized the common roots, common values and common concerns of intellectual and religious freedom.

A sometimes spirited but friendly exchange of opinions took place among the panelists during the ensuing question and answer period. The most lively exchange came in answer to a question about allowing religious groups to use library public meeting rooms. Ms Jacoby gave a quick “no” to which Mike and Doug replied “yes” (as long as everyone was treated equitably) while Professor Marty jumped in with a resounding “maybe.” An edited transcript of the presentations is available in the Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom, November, 2005, v. 54, n. 6, pp. 270-272 and 308-314.

Religion and Intellectual Freedom, Quotations

Doug Archer

Here are several quotations on the relationship of religious freedom and civil liberties which may prove helpful in the defense of either or both. They are taken from Great Quotations on Religious Freedom compiled and edited by Albert J. Menendez and Edd Doerr (Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 2002).

30. Civil liberty can be established on no foundation of human reason which will not at the same time demonstrate the right to religious freedom. . . . President John Quincy Adams, Letter to Richard Anderson, May 27, 1823

31. Civil liberties scarcely thrive where religious liberties are disregarded and the reverse is equally true. Beneath them all is a philosophy of liberty which assumes a measure of variety in human behavior, horors integrity, respects the dignity of man, and seeks to exemplify the compasion of God. Roland Bainton, The Travail of Religious Liberty (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1951), p. 175

33. Religious Liberty is so blended with civil liberty that if one falls it is not expected that the other will continue. Rev. Charles Turner, Duxbury, Mass., Election Sermon, 1773

34. God grant that in American true religion and civil liberty may be inseparable. John Witherspoon, President of Princeton University, Address at Princeton, May 17, 1776

87. We should begin by setting conscience free. When all men of all religions . . . shall enjoy equal liberty, property, and an equal chance for honors and power . . . we may expect that improvements will be made in human character and the state of society. President John Adams, Letter to Dr. Price, April 8, 1785

90. It behooves every man who values liberty of conscience for himself, to resist invasions of it in the case of others. President Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Benjamin Rush, April 21, 1803

141. Religious pluralisim and equality -- never mere toleration -- should be essential parts of what makes American democracy special. Stephen L. Carter. The Culture of Disbelief (New York: Basic Books, 1993), p. 21

349. Enforced uniformity confounds civil and religious liberty and denies the princples of Christianity and civility. Roger Williams, The Bloody Tenet of Persecution (1640)

Teens’ Rights Covered, But How Many Teens Care? Chicago 2005

Lindsey Young

Teens, do you know where your rights are? In the blessed yet cursed age between child and adulthood, our line of rights as teenagers begins to blur. Administrators, parents, teachers, any adult in a position of power basically, would say that we, teenagers, don’t have any rights, that we are given privileges. One sector of society, however, our gate keepers of knowledge, our saints of shushing, our winged-messengers of learning, our librarians, have got our backs, really.

In an informational session entitled, “We’ve Got Your Back: Teens and Librarians Speak Out on Intellectual Freedom,” which was sponsored by IFRT and YALSA, the teen and the librarian panels did just that; speaking about censorship, freedom of speech and the first amendment. Both panels proved to have a healthy love for intellectual freedom.

Censorship is, after all, a tricky subject. As technology stealthily connects millions more to the informational superhighway each day, the effort to restrain teens and the cites they view grows stealthily as well. Our principals would say that these restrictions are for our safety; that we teenagers must be sheltered from the outside world, that we must be protected from the evils of the outside world, at least until two-thirty.

However, the bad news is not that teenagers are “protected” in such a way that their rights are violated, but that most teenagers do not even notice it. Whether because most teens are apathetic to intellectual freedom or because they have grown accustomed to the chains, most teens simply don’t care.

It seems the only teens who do care for free speech are the ones who truly understand its meaning and value. I am talking about those teens that use words or even a canvas to express themselves: our school debaters, our music moguls, our reporters and journalists, those students who understand the significance of voicing what they have to say.

From the words of Traci Truly, lawyer and author of Teen Rights, “censorship and free speech, like beauty, is in the eyes and ears of the beholder.”

Lindsey Young is a student journalist in Miami, FL and can be contacted at liniyou88@aol.com

Report on 2005 Annual Conference

Carolyn Caywood, IFRT Councilor

Whew! A lot went on and IFRT was part of much of it. In addition to three ALA Council sessions and one APA Council session, there were two official Membership meetings. I need to report on Membership meetings because resolutions passed there go to Council.

Membership I

Resolutions were passed on creating access to materials in non-roman alphabets; decreasing division dues for retired members; and withdrawing troops from Iraq.

Council I

SRRT worked with IFC on the Workplace Speech resolution that had been referred to IFC at Midwinter. The resulting version passed with minor tweaking. “Resolved: Libraries should encourage discussion among library workers including library administration of non-confidential professional and policy matters about the operation of the library and matters of public concern within the framework of applicable laws.” This will probably become policy 54.21 of ALA. This resolution started a pattern of editing resolutions to use the phrase “library workers” in a spirit of inclusion.

A resolution on creating an “Endangered Libraries” list was referred to the Budget Analysis and Review Committee (BARC). The “non-roman” resolution was referred back to Membership for clarification. I requested that IFRT's resolution on threats to gay materials be postponed to Council III since we were still editing it.

APA Council

We only got half-way through the agenda. The process of setting up post-graduate certification got hung up on the question of whether certification would be revoked for ethical lapses. This was resolved by deleting the statement that it would not do so.

Membership II

“Non-roman” was tweaked and sent back to Council. A resolution asking the Ex. Board to work on increasing participation in Membership Meetings failed – the total votes on both sides of that were 65, so the President was going to declare a lack of a quorum, but people shouted that abstentions had not been counted, so she declared it failed instead. A request to report vote counts for Membership resolutions was voted down. This grew out of the new quorum of 75 for Membership Meetings. Note that if the vote counting request had passed, it would have applied only to this meeting. For a permanent change to list Membership vote numbers, there would have to be a bylaws change.

Council II

The new Public and Cultural Programs Advisory Committee urgently seeks donations for a matching NEH grant. The HRDR Advisory Committee's resolution on Mutual Respect for Support Staff Members passed – this was the spirit behind the “library workers” wording in other resolutions. BARC reported its response to the “Endangered Libraries” list, but got shot down for including political as well as financial considerations. The Ahead to 2010 Strategic Plan passed after considerable amending. The Treasurer's Report was fairly gloomy but the budget passed. Recommendations of the Task Force on Library School closings passed.

BARC having reported, the Endangered Libraries list was reconsidered and failed. There were concerns about unintended consequences of such a list. The revised “non-roman” resolution was also voted down because at this point it called for a report from every ALA unit on what was being done to advance this cause. Yes, IFRT would have needed to report on this!

Council III

Constitution and Bylaws proposed not offering ALA Affiliate status to the Catholic Library Association because CLA's stated “Object” is the promotion of Catholic principles. The discussion was fascinating in view of IFRT's program on IF and religion. In the end C&B was asked to talk further with CLA to see if there was common ground.

IFC reported but did not include its resolution on Biometrics because it needed more work, especially with LITA.

The Committee on Legislation passed two resolutions, one to Congress to continue efforts to restrain the USA PATRIOT Act, and one on communities' right to Internet broadband.

The International Relations Committee proposed a resolution on the right of US librarians to travel for professional reasons to other countries including those in disfavor with the US. Council felt it was not broad enough and should include library workers and travel of foreign library workers to the US, so it was referred back to IRC.

The Committee on Organization finally got passage of its proposed separation of scholarships and awards into separate committees. Perhaps IFRT should consider setting up a scholarship?

IFRT's “Resolution on Threats to Library Materials Related to Sex, Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation” passed after 45 minutes of debate (and hours of negotiating and redrafting!) I am very grateful to Martin Garner, Karen Schneider, K. R. Roberto, Michael Miller and Diedre Conklin who drafted the resolution, and to IFC and the chapter councilors who helped us understand their concerns. And thanks to Nanette Perez and Beverly Becker of OIF who made us look competent at Council. I also learned from this experience to involve everyone with a stake and to define that stake as broadly as possible!

The Membership resolution on decreasing division dues for Retired Members passed after amendment, so IFRT may want to think about this too.

The Membership resolution on “The Connection between the Iraq War and Libraries” passed after “immediate and unconditional” was removed from withdrawal of military forces. There were other amendments and considerable debate. The final version also urges the government to shift budget priorities to domestic programs, including libraries, and to provide assistance through the UN for rebuilding Iraq's libraries and cultural resources.

The Resolution on Disinformation, Media Manipulation, and the Destruction of Public Information passed with a friendly amendment from me to split its second resolved clause into two, one to nurture 21st century information literacy and the other to seek alternative news sources.

Councilors from REFORMA brought a revised “Resolution in Support of Immigrants' Rights to Free Public Library Services” which then passed.

And unbelievably, we finished all business on time! I have not included all Council business in this report, but I wanted to give you the flavor of what went on and alert you to actions that could impact IFRT.

Jones called the meeting to order at 2:09 pm, welcomed all and encouraged them to get involved in IFRT.

Perez noted that in Item XIA "Exhibit II" should be "Exhibit 5a" and that in Item XVIII "Exhibit VI" should be "Exhibit IX". Caywood moved, Christos seconded, that the agenda be approved as amended. The motion was approved by acclamation.

The minutes were reviewed and approved as distributed.

Koltutsky presented the final IFRT Budget. Budget was reviewed. Miller recommended revisiting the award levels; high-profile awards should be $1,000, at minimum. Norman noted that unit awards are not mandated to be more than $500. Miller moved, Brynteson seconded, and it was

VOTED, That the Chair appoint an ad hoc committee to review award levels and consider awarding speakers a courtesy membership, and report back to the Board during Midwinter 2006. The motion was approved.

Norman, Miller and Koltutsky volunteered for the committee.

Norman moved, Christos seconded, and it was

VOTED, That the budget be accepted as presented. The motion was approved.

Norman reported that Rosanne Cordell was elected Chair-elect (2005-2006); Julia Glynn was elected Treasurer (2005-2007); Jim Kuhn and Robert P. Holley were elected Directors (2005-2007).

It was noted that the joint meeting of IFC, IFRT, and Division IFCs will be held on Sunday, June 26, 10:00 am – 11:00 am, HIL-Northwest 2. The agenda will be distributed at the meeting. Jones will attend for IFRT.

Norman reported there are many award receptions scheduled and hoped that attendance would fulfill expectations. Norman also suggested that in future we ask that people register in advance so as to allow for better estimating the amount of food required. Christos has created a "webliography" as a handout for the program.

Gulyas indicated that the IFRT/YALSA program was on track with four teens, three librarian panelists, a moderator and a main speaker scheduled. Perez indicated that all IFRT programs will be taped and transcribed.

Klipsch reported on efforts to organize a program tentatively entitled "The Native American Perspective on the American Experience" for ALA Annual 2006 (New Orleans). Klipsch defended the topic as relevant to IF because default censorship occurs when people of color and other diverse populations are not represented in library materials. Anyone who has ideas for this program topic was asked to share them with Klipsch. Norman suggested that a preconference be developed and discussion of the feasibility of this ensued. Norman moved, Klipsch seconded and it was

VOTED, That an ad hoc committee be appointed to develop ideas for a preconference, with proposal due to IFRT Board at or before Midwinter. The motion was approved.

Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA) and Association of Library Trustees and Advocates (ALTA) were suggested as possible partners for a preconference. Norman, Lauren, and Bonell-Mihalis volunteered for the preconference committee, to be chaired by Norman.

Klipsch reported that IRRT Table has asked IFRT to co-sponsor a program on Intellectual Freedom throughout the world, which would take place on Monday afternoon, 1:30-3:30 during the 2006 ALA Annual Meeting in New Orleans. Caywood moved, Klipsch seconded and it was

VOTED, That IFRT co-sponsor the program. The motion was approved.

A. Resolution on Workplace Speech.

Caywood presented a slightly reworded resolution. It was felt that the proposed Intellectual Freedom Committee wording gave too much ground, but that Caywood should be directed to state that IFRT continued to support the resolution in principle. There was lengthy discussion. Archer moved, Christos seconded and it was

VOTED, That Caywood be directed to use her judgment when the resolution came up at Council. The motion was approved.

B. Resolution on Threats to Library Materials Related to Sexual Orientation.

This resolution, which was written by Caywood at Midwinter, is currently on the agenda for Council I and is in the hands of the Resolution Committee. Some of the clauses need work. Klipsch noted that the IFC had stated that it would be better to send the resolution to state chapters and let them use it as they will. Norman noted that resolutions don't end in complex transmittal clauses any longer, as this makes them too wordy. It is assumed that the usual transmittal steps will be taken for every resolution that passes. Other suggestions were made but it was agreed that it should continue to be shepherded by Garnar as a joint IFRT/GLBTRT resolution. Klipsch moved, Gulyas seconded, and it was

VOTED, That Caywood use her judgment to achieve the further crafting and adoption of the resolution.

Discussion was deferred until after tomorrow's meeting with IFC.

Discussion was deferred till IFRT II.

The projected publication date of the seventh edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual is the 2006 Midwinter Meeting.

At the 2005 ALA Midwinter Meeting, Barbara Jones, IFRT chair, discussed the possibility of working with the Intellectual Freedom Committee on a Festschrift to honor Gordon Conable. The Intellectual Freedom Committee agreed this was a worthwhile project, and Forman and Gardner volunteered to work with the IFRT. The Freedom to Read Foundation also wishes to be involved in this project. Krug suggested one topic could be the Universal Right to Free Expression. Publishers have been contacted and permission granted from the Conable family. Jones referred attendees to the information sheet provided and indicated that Carrie Gardner is coordinating recruitment of contributors.

Discussion was tabled until IFRT II.

This is an Intellectual Freedom issue because Google will use cookies and will be able to track usage of materials and this usage could be made available to law enforcement. Contracts between libraries and Google do not address the privacy issue. It is incumbent on IFRT to help assure that ALA takes leadership on this issue. Centralization is an issue; Fair Use and Copyright must be balanced with access. Koltutsky noted that Google is very secretive and if they are collecting the info and it can be retained then they are violating privacy. Cordell asked if there exists any sort of ALA toolkit on contracting with electronic vendors regarding privacy issues. This would be a good topic for an Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) pre-conference.

Attendees were referred to the agenda; no action needed.

Caywood moved, Klipsch seconded, and it was

VOTED, That IFRT invite the Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgendered Round Table (GLBTRT) to participate in a joint working group to develop a tool kit to answer recurring thorny questions around GLBT issues. The motion was approved.

Caywood, Garner, and Christos volunteered for the working group. Jones will write to the GLBTRTto ask them to appoint three members. Discussion ensued about what to do when someone complains about gay library displays. Klipsch: include materials from all sides and then you can honestly say that you are practicing intellectual freedom.

Klipsch reported that over half of her nominating committee work is done and she continues to look for volunteers to step forward. Christos was appointed Chair Elect of the Intellectual Freedom Committee of the Florida Library Association. Archer needs copy for the IFRT report by August. It was suggested that the Publications Committee be renamed the Communications Committee with the IFRT Reporter publication under its jurisdiction. The Editor of the IFRT Reporter would then report to the Chair of the Communications Committee. It was moved by Archer, seconded by Garner, and

VOTED, That the Bylaws Committee examine the charge and functions of the Publications Committee and (if appropriate) change its name to the Communications Committee, letting the editor of IFRT Reporter report to the Chair of the Communications Committee. The motion was approved. Norman expressed a desire to survey the membership on how the lists are used. She will draft a survey and mount it on "Survey Monkey" for IFRT Board review.

Caywood referred attendees to Exhibit XXI (Inclusiveness and Mutual Respect Proposed Policy). Klipsch moved, Christos seconded, and it was

VOTED, That our councilor be directed to support this resolution. The motion was approved.

Caywood recommended that IFRT consider offering a special membership discount to support staff. Garner indicated that the Membership Committee did discuss this, and will elaborate on Monday in their full report.

The use of Biometric Technology at Naperville Public Library was discussed. The library is using this technology to clear users for internet access. If a user does not want to have their fingerprint scanned they must request guest access. There was consensus that this kind of technology is dangerous because, once in place, it can be expanded easily, is more convenient for hackers to violate, and can be used by law enforcement to abuse privacy. This technology also requires considerable funds to guard it securely, thus diverting funds from more urgent library priorities. The IFC's Privacy Committee is charged with developing a resolution against the use of biometric technology.

A. Bylaws Committee did not meet.

The Membership Promotion Committee was charged with three major projects for 2004-05. The first was to develop more publicity materials for IFRT that could be used to promote the RT at state and regional conferences. The second was to develop a list of liaisons between IFRT and various groups, such as state chapters and library schools. The third was to come up with ways of making the IFRT list more active and therefore more of a member benefit. Of the three projects, only one has had any real progress. This was the list of liaisons for state chapters. IFRT now has a core group of liaisons representing 9 state intellectual freedom committees. Liaisons were polled on what IFRT can do for them resulting in the following list of requested services:

• developing a speaker's bureau for the IF community for both regional and national speakers
• conference session topic suggestions
• issue summaries
• brochures and fliers on IF topics to distribute to both patrons and staff, including materials for support staff who may lack a theoretical grounding in IF issues
• best practices, tips and suggestions; a network of support
• ideas for enhancing communication within a state association for the purpose of sharing member needs with their state IFC
• information/brochures on IFRT

The next step is to determine what is realistic for IFRT to attempt, prioritize the projects, and start working. One course of action may be to survey other IF groups to see what's currently available in terms of brochures and other resources.

As of June 2005, IFRT has 1,750 members, down from 1,775 in November 2004 and 1,838 in November 2003. IFRT has slipped to third place (behind SRRT at 1,803 and NMRT at 1,778). 424 members are shared with SRRT. The largest source of members from a single division is PLA with 554. Although IFRT is not in imminent danger of losing its Councilor (a privilege of the five largest round tables), this is still a worrisome trend. Methods must be examined for reversing this slide.

Caywood noted that if support staff is not bought into the Intellectual Freedom community, they will not convey related policy to the public and to patrons. The biggest gaps are in front-line staff, and inexperienced librarians. More education is needed, both at the library school level and in the workplace. Garnar moved and it was

VOTED, That a $10 membership level be established for support staff. The motion was approved.

IFRT I Saturday, January 21, 2:00 – 4:00pm
IFRT II Monday, January 23, 8:00 – 10:00am

Jones adjourned the meeting at 5:33pm

Beverly Becker, Kay Boies, Susan Brynteson, Rosanne Cordell, Julia Glynn, Jonathan Kelley, Lynn McIntosh, Linda Saferite, Laurie Sandborg, Jim Teliha, Mike Wessells

Jones called the meeting to order at 8:03am.

Garnar reported on progress and the revised version of the Resolution was reviewed. The Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC), the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT), and the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) have endorsed this Resolution in principle. Caywood confirmed that changes had been made to satisfy requests made by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Round Table (GLBTRT). Caywood moved, Garnar seconded and it was

VOTED, To submit the revised version to Council. The motion was approved.

Caywood will also take copies to the Council Forum. Saferite suggested that the Resolution also be endorsed by those who deal with services to children because most of the attacks are addressed to children's librarians. Klipsch suggested a program be developed on how to deal with this issue in legal terms, which could perhaps be entitled "Librarians and the Law." State chapter leaders could be invited to attend at ALA expense, and the legislative lobbyists for the different divisions could also be invited. Jones will follow up and come to Midwinter with a proposal.

Kelley reported for Kuhn, who sent his apologies for not attending due to family matters. The Merritt Fund was created to support librarians who have suffered in their jobs due to the defense of intellectual freedom. This fund fills an important need and should be advertised more broadly. Most library workers don't know about it. The Office for Diversity has been helpful in getting the message out about the fund. Lucille Thomas has been elected as Merritt Fund Trustee. All present are invited to attend a party in honor of the 35th anniversary of the Fund, in Keith Michael Fields' suite. Three grants were awarded in 2004; two in 2005. In all cases the grant was extremely helpful to the recipients, either for legal expenses or to pay the rent. Recipients are asked to donate back to the fund when they are able. Currently website links are being created to help build awareness of the Fund.

The Resolution on Workplace Speech passed.

Caywood congratulated program chairs for their excellent programs. Turchyn and Gulyas expressed pride in the librarians who served on both programs' panels. Gulyas noted that one lesson learned is that promotion at ALA itself is important, as there is so much competition for events among conference attendees.

Resolution Opposing the Use of Biometric Technology in Libraries Garnar indicated that the resolution opposing the use of biometric technology in libraries will be discussed in the next meeting. It was suggested that the use of such technology would make a good program topic for ALA Annual. Garnar read the text of the Resolution and Caywood moved, Turchyn seconded and it was

VOTED, That we endorse it in principle. The motion carried.

It was noted that, though our President has taken a middle ground on this subject, the use of such technology is "really beyond the pale" and must be opposed forcefully. The use of such technology represents not only a privacy risk but is an undue financial burden on libraries whose budgets are already stressed. This technology does not aid management; just another expensive burden.

It was noted that there needs to be a definition of "disinformation". It was agreed to support the resolution but that it needed more work before submitting to Council.

Brynteson noted that in "Law and Order" episodes NYC Police regularly go into libraries and ask for information and it is given to them without argument, and that a letter should be sent to the writers of the series pointing out this inaccuracy. All agreed that Brynteson should send such a letter.

September 17 is Constitution Day, and all were reminded to do an exhibit in their library. Everybody who gets federal money is required to observe it.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:31.

Merritt Fund Forum

Jim Kuhn

This Midwinter 2006, The LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund, IFRT, and a number of other ALA units will be hosting the first Merritt Fund forum. It will be open to all ALA members who would like to learn more about resources available to individual librarians and library workers who have been denied employment rights based on their support of intellectual freedom principles or discriminated against. It will also allow attendees to learn how they can provide support for individuals in need and the organizations dedicated to assisting them.

The LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund was established in 1970 as a mechanism to make it possible to provide direct financial assistance to librarians in distress due to their defense of intellectual freedom. In 1975, the scope of the Fund was broadened to include librarians discriminated against on the basis of sex, sexual preference, race, color, creed, or place of national origin. The Merritt Fund is supported solely by donations from concerned groups and individuals and is administered by the Office for Intellectual Freedom.

In recent years IFRT established a Merritt Fund subcommittee to help the Fund’s trustees promote greater knowledge among librarians of the Fund's existence and purpose. We are pleased to sponsor this forum as part of that effort.

For more on the history of the Merritt Fund, or to find an application, please visit www.merrittfund.org. If you have questions about the forum or anything else, contact Jonathan Kelley at (800) 545-2433 x4226 or email jokelley@ala.org.

Selected Intellectual Freedom Sessions in San Antonio, 2006

Doug Archer

Complied from ALA’s Conference Planner. Be sure to check your conference book and list of changes handout upon arrival.

Friday, January 20

Freedom to Read Foundation Board of Trustees

Date: 1/20/2006

Time: 8:00 AM-5:30 PM

Location: Marriott Rivercenter room: Salon D

Meeting Type: Open

IFRT: Intellectual Freedom Liaison Orientation Luncheon

Date: 1/20/2006

Time: 12:30 PM-2:00 PM

Location: Marriott Rivercenter room: Conference Rm. 3/4

Meeting Type: Closed

Saturday, January 21

IFC I

Date: 1/21/2006

Time: 8:00 AM-10:00 AM

Location: Marriott Rivercenter room: Conference Rm. 3/4

Meeting Type: Open

IFC Issues Briefing Session

Date: 1/21/2006

Time: 10:30 AM-12:30 PM

Location: Marriott Rivercenter room: Conference Rm. 15

Meeting Type: Open

LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund Board of Trustees

Date: 1/21/2006

Time: 12:30 PM-2:00 PM

Location: Marriott Rivercenter room: Conference Rm. 16

IFC Privacy Subcommittee Meeting

Date: 1/21/2006

Time: 12:30 PM-2:30 PM

Location: Conv Center room: Room 206B

Meeting Type: Open

IFRT I

Date: 1/21/2006

Time: 1:30 PM-3:30 PM

Location: Marriott Rivercenter room: Conference Rm. 3/4

Meeting Type: Open

IFC Open Hearing on RFID

Date: 1/21/2006

Time: 1:30 PM-3:30 PM

Location: Conv Center room: Room 217C

Meeting Type: Open

FCC Subcommittee Meeting

Date: 1/21/2006

Time: 4:00 PM-6:00 PM

Location: Conv Center room: Room 008A

Meeting Type: Closed

IFC Open Hearing on Q&A on Labels and Ratings

Date: 1/21/2006

Time: 4:00 PM-6:00 PM

Location: Conv Center room: Room 217C

Meeting Type: Open

Sunday, January 22

IFC/COL Joint Meeting

Date: 1/22/2006

Time: 8:00 AM-10:00 AM

Location: Conv Center room: Room 217D

Meeting Type: Open

IFC/IFRT/Div IFC's Joint Mtg.

Date: 1/22/2006

Time: 10:30 AM-11:30 AM

Location: Conv Center room: Room 007D

Meeting Type: Open

LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund Conversation

Date: 1/22/2006

Time: 12:30 PM-2:00 PM

Location: Marriott Rivercenter room: Conference Rm. 7

IFC II

Date: 1/22/2006

Time: 1:30 PM-6:00 PM

Location: Marriott Rivercenter room: Conference Rm. 3/4

Meeting Type: Open

Monday, January 23

IFRT II

Date: 1/23/2006

Time: 8:00 AM-10:00 AM

Location: Marriott Rivercenter room: Conference Rm. 3/4

Meeting Type: Open

IFC III

Date: 1/23/2006

Time: 1:30 PM-6:00 PM

Location: Marriott Rivercenter room: Conference Rm. 3/4

Meeting Type: Open

Tuesday, January 24

IFC IV

Date: 1/24/2006

Time: 1:30 PM-4:00 PM

Location: Conv Center room: Room 207B

Meeting Type: Open

Native Perspectives, New Orleans, 2006

Pam Klipsch

The IF program on Saturday, June 24, 2006 in New Orleans will be "Acknowledging Native Perspectives on the American Experience." The program is co-sponsored by the American Indian Library Association and will feature keynote speakers Richie Plass and Charles Yow.

Richie Plass (Menominee), former director of Indian Studies at Kent State University, is an educator, poet, musician (Wolf River Band) and activist from Green Bay, WI, and a board member of STAR (Students and Teachers Against Racism).

Charles Yow (Cherokee), senior litigation partner with Red Cloud Law Firm in Pine Ridge, SD, is a former Tribal Court judge and mediator, active in a variety of Native American causes nationally. He lives in Bay St. Louis, MS.

In addition to the keynote speakers, the program will include a panel of Native librarians/booksellers who will discuss how library programs and services can address issues of racism and inclusion. The joint program committee of IFRT and AILA are planning a website to promote the program, beginning in January. Watch for more details in future issues of the IFRT

Carolyn Caywood: Carolyn has been a librarian since 1972 when she graduated from Wayne State University in Detroit. She manages a Virginia Beach Public Library branch and a Subregional library for the blind. She is IFRT Councilor, a member of the IFC subcommittee on privacy, and a past Board member of the Freedom to Read Foundation.

Carol Gulyas: Carol is the IFRT Secretary and an active member of SRRT. She is Reference & Instruction Librarian at Columbia College, Chicago.

Pam Klipsch: Pam is a long-time, take-no-prisoners, intellectual freedom advocate and current Chair of the IFRT Board. She is the Director of the Jefferson County Library, High Ridge, MO and is glad to say that John Ashcroft is her former senator.

Jim Kuhn: Jim is IFRT’s liaison to the Social Responsibilities Round Table after having chaired several of its committees. Jim is a librarian at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC.

Nanette Perez: Nanette is Project Coordinator for ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom and Staff Liaison for IFRT. She is our “go to” person who sees that all of the behind the scenes things get taken care of.

Lindsey Young: Lindsey is a junior at Michael M. Krop High School in Miami, FL. She does water polo and swimming and in addition, she is the President of Key Club. Lindsey also loves competitive sailing and every summer she teaches sailing basics to children.

Doug Archer: Doug is Editor of the IFRT Report and an IFRT Director. When he is not being a Reference and Peace Studies Librarian at the University Libraries of Notre Dame, he splits his time between being a Church of the Brethren minister and pastor’s spouse and raising three grandchildren.