The Freedom to Read Statement is the best known of the American Library Association’s documents on the principles of intellectual freedom as embodied in the Library Bill of Rights. The Intellectual Freedom Committee is conducting a review of the document. ALA members are strongly encouraged to attend one or all of the upcoming listening sessions focused on revising the Freedom to Read statement. Five listening sessions will be held this fall, focused on specific themes. Register in advance to attend
Freedom to Read Listening Sessions:
- Theme: First Amendment
Wednesday, September 27, 12:30-2 p.m. MDT - Theme: Disinformation and Misinformation
Thursday, October 5, 12-2:30 p.m. MDT - Theme: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Friday, October 13, 12:30-2 p.m. MDT - Theme: Challenges to Materials and Authors
Thursday, October 19, 1:30-3 p.m. MDT - Theme: Youth Access to Materials
Wednesday, October 25, 1-2:30 p.m. MDT
At these virtual sessions, attendees should plan to share their thoughts on how well the current statement addresses these themes and what changes may need to be made to the statement. The discussions will focus on big picture ideas, rather than wordsmithing the statement. Each session will also include a brief overview of what the Freedom to Read Statement is and how it has been revised in the past.
These sessions will be facilitated by members of the Intellectual Freedom Committee’s task force focused on revising the statement. This subgroup is tasked with gathering ALA member input in the fall of 2023. This task force will summarize their findings, then submit the findings to the Office of Intellectual Freedom for consideration of incorporating findings in a revised Freedom to Read Statement.