This year the CLA IFC is promoting Banned Books Week with a twist: we're going with a special theme, Banned, Blocked, and Gone, to focus on the loss of information through filtering, censorship, or even loss of funding.
We are going to have a planning meeting in February, so if you have ideas, post away!
Here are Cynthia Pirtle's notes from the CLA presentation. Read and heed!
"Some Proper--and NOT SO PROPER--Nouns You Need to Know to Protect Your Institution:"
1. CIPA, UCITA, uneeda strategy for handling censors. I would refer you to the Texas Library Association website for a document entitled, "What To Do Before The Censor Comes."
2. PATRIOT ACT--Well, since no inquiries have been made in libraries, what's the matter with all of you hysterical librarians? If you're Rip Van Winkle and have been asleep for a long time, brush up on the implications of the act for your particular library. Have a long talk with your supervisor about possible effects at your institution.
3. Patron Records--Familiarize yourself and your governing body on the protections afforded patron records and NEVER waiver from protecting them.
4. 11th Hour-- This is not the time to get concerned about intellectual freedom issues. Develop a plan, communicate it to the powers that be, and make sure the entire staff of your institution understands it completely.
5. Friends--Practice the old adage, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." Know all that you can about potential problem issues and enlist the aid of others to help you get your message out.
6. Who do you think this is? Just Off His National,Assinine Stupid, Hysterical Campaign Regarding Others' Freedom To read. Hint: John Ashcroft
7. Help!!--Know where to get it: CLA; CLA Intellectual Freedom Committee; ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom; Freedom to Read Foundation; ACLU, LRRX, LibraryLaw.com
8. Filtering--Develop a policy on it that your institution can support. Stand up for intellectual freedom, but remember that if you must -- filter, that is --. that Constitutionally protected speech is likely going to be a casualty.
9. First Amendment -- Somehow find a palatable way to convey the message that the First Amendment doesn't stop at the city limits of your town, on the perimeter of your campus, or at the front door of your library.
10. Judith Krug--Director of the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom said to Congress, "It's nobody's business what I read." To that, I say, "Amen, amen, and amen!"