MLA Connect Advocacy Hour: Updates from the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom

Thursday, June 15, 2023

10:00 - 11:00 AM

On Thursday, June 15, join MLA on Zoom from 10:00 – 11:00 AM for our June Advocacy Hour with special guest Deborah Caldwell-Stone, Director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) and Executive Director of The Freedom to Read Foundation.

Deborah will share updates on the work of ALA and the OIF to address censorship and book banning as well as an overview of actions libraries, library workers and advocates can take to protect intellectual freedom and the right to read. There will also be time for Q&A about current issues, initiatives, and library advocacy. Plan to bring your questions and join the conversation!

This advocacy hour is free to attend to anyone interested in joining the conversation! Please note, this conversation is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.

REGISTER

Guest Speaker

Deborah Caldwell-Stone is the Director of ALA'S Office for Intellectual Freedom and Executive Director of the Freedom to Read Foundation. For nearly two decades she has helped libraries, librarians, and trustees address a wide range of intellectual freedom issues, including the censorship of books and other library resources, library policies, and the privacy of library users' records. She advises ALA member groups on law and policy concerns and has done presentations for lawyers, trustees, and librarians addressing First Amendment and privacy law. She is a former appellate litigator.

About the OIF

Established December 1, 1967, the Office for Intellectual Freedom is charged with implementing ALA policies concerning the concept of intellectual freedom as embodied in the Library Bill of Rights, the American Library Association’s basic policy on free access to libraries and library materials. The goal of the office is to educate librarians and the general public about the nature and importance of intellectual freedom in libraries.

Questions?

MLA Connect Advocacy Hours are an opportunity for the library community to learn more about MLA's advocacy and legislative priorities including funding, elections, property taxes, literacy, internet access, privacy, intellectual freedom, and more. Each month, we will address a new topic and share any pending legislation introduced in the House or Senate that could impact the Michigan library community. Monthly sessions will take place generally on the third Thursday of the month at 10:00 AM.

This advocacy hour is free to attend to anyone interested in joining the conversation! A maximum of 500 attendees can join the live event. Registered attendees will receive information and a link to access the meetings on the Zoom platform. Please note recordings of all MLA Advocacy Hours are available to watch for free and on-demand on our website at milibraries.org.

Rachel Ash
Membership and Communications Director
Michigan Library Association
3410 Belle Chase Way, Suite 100
Lansing, MI 48911
Phone: (517) 394-2774 ext. 2
Direct: (517) 881-6652
milibraries.org
rfash@milibraries.org

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