[Publib] 2006 MW IFC Report to Council

[Don Wood]

2005-2006 ALA CD#19
2006 ALA Midwinter Meeting

ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee
Report to Council
2006 Midwinter Meeting
San Antonio, Texas=20
Wednesday, January 25, 2006=20

The ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) is pleased to present this =
update of its activities.  Under "Information," this report covers the =
seventh edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual, Resolution in Support =
of Academic Freedom, Q&A on Labels and Rating Systems, RFID Implementation =
Guidelines for Libraries, Biometric Technologies in Libraries, Festschrift =
to Honor Gordon M. Conable, Digitization of Books, Intelligent Design v. =
Scientific Theory of Evolution, Control and Censorship of the Internet, =
and Cable and Video.  Under "Projects," this report covers both new and =
continuing projects.  New projects include the Contemporary Intellectual =
Freedom Series, Law for Librarians and Trustees, Guidelines for Graphic =
Novels, and the "Radical, Militant Librarian" Button.  Continuing projects =
include Confidentiality in Libraries: An Intellectual Freedom Modular =
Education Program, Lawyers for Libraries, the LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian=
 Fund, and the 2006 Banned Books Week. =20

INFORMATION

Seventh Edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual

The seventh edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual was published this =
past December.  With this updated edition, librarians continue to have =
practical support as they maintain libraries as havens for the free =
exchange of ideas and information, and address wide-ranging challenges =
relating to privacy and censorship from government, special interest =
groups, and others.  ALA members can purchase a copy online from ALA =
Editions for $46.80.=20

Resolution in Support of Academic Freedom

David Horowitz, founder and president of the Center for the Study of =
Popular Culture and editor of FrontPageMag.com, wrote the "Academic Bill =
of Rights" to ensure that professors do not indoctrinate students by =
making particular answers to controversial matters the goal of the =
instruction, but, instead, "make students aware of a spectrum of scholarly =
views on matters of controversy and opinion." =20

His ideal would seem to follow from the principles of academic freedom =
found in "The Principles of Tenure and Academic Freedom," written by the =
American Association of University Professors (AAUP).    Horowitz, =
however, has been lobbying more than a dozen state legislatures to pass =
his "Academic Bill of Rights" because, he says, instead of following =
AAUP's principles of academic freedom, many professors act as "political =
advocates," expressing opinions in a "partisan manner on controversial =
issues irrelevant to the academic subject, and even grade students in a =
manner designed to enforce their conformity to professorial prejudices."

ALA Councilor Mark Rosenzweig drafted the resolution, coming up under your =
"New Business"; the Intellectual Freedom Round Table, the ALA Intellectual =
Freedom Committee, the ACRL Intellectual Freedom Committee, and other =
interested parties worked with Rosenzweig on a final draft and approved =
the final resolution.

For additional background information, visit OIF's Web page, "Academic =
Freedom," at http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/ifissues/academicfreedom.htm.

Q&A on Labels and Rating Systems

One of the comments received by the Intellectual Freedom Committee during =
its review of all intellectual freedom policies, in preparation for the =
publication of the seventh edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual, was =
from the ALA Committee on Professional Ethics (COPE).  COPE suggested the =
IFC develop a Q&A on labels and rating systems.  The committee agreed to =
undertake this project and has been working on such a document since its =
2005 spring meeting.

The IFC sponsored an open hearing at this Midwinter Meeting to gather =
input from the profession and continue its development of this Q&A.  The =
committee received many thoughtful comments from those in attendance.

After further discussion of the document, the IFC asked the Office for =
Intellectual Freedom to mount the Q&A on the OIF Web site.  The committee =
will update the Q&A as warranted.  The document is found at http://www.ala.=
org/ala/oif/statementspols/statementsif/interpretations/qandalabelsratingsy=
stems.htm.

RFID Implementation Guidelines for Libraries

Since Council adopted the "Resolution on Radio Frequency Identification =
(RFID) Technology and Privacy Principles," and since nearly 300 U.S. =
libraries are using, or are deciding whether to use, RFID technology, the =
IFC believed it was imperative that ALA help to develop guidelines for =
implementing these technologies in libraries.  At its 2005 spring meeting, =
therefore, the IFC formed a subcommittee to develop guidelines.  Prior to =
this Midwinter Meeting, the IFC distributed a draft for comments.  These =
comments, and those gathered at the IFC-sponsored open hearing at this =
Midwinter Meeting, will be the bases for refinement of these guidelines.  =
It is anticipated that a final draft will be distributed before the New =
Orleans conference.

Biometric Technologies in Libraries

Although the IFC began drafting a resolution on the use of biometric =
technologies in libraries at the 2005 Annual Conference, the Intellectual =
Freedom Committee, with the Office for Information Technology Policy, =
continued its discussion on the use of biometric technologies in libraries,=
 and the privacy implications for library use.  As a result of these =
discussions, further work on the resolution has been postponed. =20

Festschrift to Honor Gordon M. Conable

At the 2005 Midwinter Meeting, the Intellectual Freedom Round Table =
(IFRT), the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF), and the IFC began work on a =
Festschrift to honor Gordon M. Conable.  Topics from authors have been =
solicited, and chapters are currently being written.  All proceeds will be =
donated to the Gordon M. Conable Fund of the Freedom to Read Foundation.

There is still time to submit a chapter proposal.  Send proposals to Don =
Wood, Office for Intellectual Freedom, 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL =
60611; dwood at ala.org.

Digitization of Books

Projects to digitize vast collections of books are well underway.  For =
example:

=95	The Google Library Project involves the scanning and digitization =
of millions of published books from the collections of Stanford University,=
 Harvard University, the University of Michigan, the New York Public =
Library, and The University of Oxford, from which Google plans to create =
an online, searchable database.
=95	The Google Book Search (formerly The Google Print Publisher =
Program) makes works available for Google to display excerpts or bibliograp=
hic information for online search.
=95	The Open Content Alliance (OCA) represents the collaborative =
efforts of a group of cultural, technology, nonprofit, and governmental =
organizations from around the world that will help build a permanent =
archive of multilingual digitized text and multimedia content. Content in =
the OCA archive will be accessible soon through this website and through =
Yahoo!
=95	HarperCollins will create a searchable digital library of its own =
works.

The IFC discussed the digitization of books in relation to its affect on =
libraries and librarianship and will continue monitoring these and other =
related projects as they develop.

Intelligent Design v. Scientific Theory of Evolution

At the 2000 ALA Midwinter Meeting, the IFC wrote a resolution, adopted by =
the Council, urging the ALA to endorse the AAAS "Statement on the Kansas =
State Board of Education Decision on the Education of Students in the =
Science of Evolution and Cosmology," and to support the AAAS call for =
action to restore evolution and cosmology to the Kansas state education =
standards and assessments.  In November 2005, the Kansas State Board of =
Education adopted new science-curriculum standards for the state's 445,000 =
public-school students that openly question Darwinian theory.

The IFC discussed the issue of intelligent design v. scientific theory of =
evolution and formed a subcommittee to address this and the larger =
concerns related to "fairness" and "balance."

The IFC has invited Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for =
Separation of Church and State, to speak in New Orleans on why preventing =
the teaching of intelligent design in science classes is not a free speech =
issue.

Control and Censorship of the Internet=20

The UN's World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) met in Tunis, =
Tunisia, November 16=9618, 2005, to discuss, among other issues, the =
controversy over who should control the Internet.

Representatives of the world's governments agreed to let the United States =
control the technology that runs the Internet.  Under the agreement, =
however, a new group was formed, the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).  =
This new group, convened by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, =
would begin operations in the first three months of 2006.  The IGF is free =
to take up any Internet issue (e.g., cybercrime, spam, freedom of =
expression, and multilingualism).  The U.S. has shown a willingness to =
engage in discussions on the subject.

The IFC discussed the implications of this summit, as well as other issues =
related to control and censorship of the Internet, such as the Convention =
on Cybercrime, which was approved by the Senate, and which may further =
endanger American's privacy and civil liberties=AFand may place the FBI's =
surveillance apparatus at the disposal of other nations with much less =
respect for individual liberties.

For the additional information, see OIF's Web page "Control and Censorship =
of the Internet," found at http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/ifissues/censorshipin=
ternet.htm.

Cable and Video

Congress and the FCC are attempting to tone down cable fare they judge as =
indecent.  Jack Valenti is urging lawmakers to let the cable industry come =
up with its own solution.

The Family Entertainment Protection Act, sponsored by Senators Hillary =
Rodham Clinton and Joseph Lieberman, will prohibit the sale of inappropriat=
e video games to minors.

These and other efforts to curb cable and video indecency and violence, as =
they relate specifically to intellectual freedom in libraries, continue to =
be topics monitored by the IFC.

PROJECTS

New

Contemporary Intellectual Freedom Series

The majority of printed works addressing intellectual freedom and privacy =
issues in the library tend to be academic or compilations of policies and =
articles like the Intellectual Freedom Manual, Seventh Edition.  While =
these references make excellent resources for the academic, the professiona=
l librarian, or the student conducting in-depth research, few works =
provide practical, easy-to-access guidance on intellectual freedom and =
privacy issues to a broader audience that can include front-line librarians=
, library workers, LIS students, library volunteers, and members of the =
general public. =20

This project will create a series of three publications containing the =
practical application of intellectual freedom principles in public =
libraries, academic libraries, and school libraries.  Each publication =
will employ a nontraditional format, using contemporary design, and =
perhaps a bit of humor, to attract the eye and encourage the targeted =
audiences to browse the work. The text will use plain, accessible language =
to discuss intellectual freedom concepts via a series of case studies that =
will both illustrate and teach a particular intellectual freedom or =
privacy concept.  The reader should be able to jump into the work at any =
point or find a case study to address a current problem or issue of =
concern.

Each case study will describe a set of facts, followed by a discussion of =
the applicable intellectual freedom principles.  The overall "discussion" =
will employ text, Q&As, sidebars, "hot tips" and  other creative means to =
provide information useful to front-line library workers or LIS students =
seeking an introduction to intellectual freedom.

Law for Librarians and Trustees

OIF has received a grant for this forthcoming project to "train the =
trainers" in basic law related to intellectual freedom in libraries.  The =
project's goal is to train state IFC chairs, chapter directors and =
representatives from state libraries, and trustees.  The project is by =
invitation only and will be held in Chicago in April. =20

Guidelines for Graphic Novels

OIF, the National Coalition Against Censorship, and the Comic Book Legal =
Defense Fund are developing an introduction to graphic novels for =
librarians.  It is scheduled to be available at the 2006 ALA Annual =
Conference.

"Radical, Militant Librarian" Button

In recognition of librarians' efforts to help raise awareness of the =
overreaching aspects of the USA PATRIOT Act, OIF is offering librarians an =
opportunity to proudly proclaim their "radical" and "militant" support for =
intellectual freedom, privacy, and civil liberties.

To order the button, contact OIF at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4220, or order =
online using the Radical, Militant Librarian Button Secure Online Order =
Form at http://www.ala.org/oif/radicalbutton.htm.

Inspiration for the button's design came from documents obtained from the =
FBI by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) through a Freedom =
of Information Act (FOIA) request. The request elicited a series of =
e-mails in which FBI agents complained about the "radical, militant =
librarians" while criticizing the reluctance of FBI management to use the =
secret warrants authorized under Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act. Of =
course, in part because of the efforts of "radical militant librarians" =
arguing on behalf of their users' right to read freely, without government =
interference or surveillance, Congress voted to extend its debate on the =
renewal of the USA PATRIOT Act.

OIF sells the "Radical, Militant Librarian" buttons for $2.00 (1-10 =
buttons); $1.50 (11-50 buttons); and $1.25 (51 or more). All proceeds =
support the programs of the office.

Visit USA PATRIOT Act for more information (http://www.ala.org/oif/ifissues=
/usapatriotact).

Continuing
=20
Confidentiality in Libraries: An Intellectual Freedom Modular Education =
Program

These special continuing education materials=AFintroduced in 1993 to =
educate librarians on the importance of protecting confidentiality in =
libraries=AFare being updated for the new millennium.

Lawyers for Libraries=20

Lawyers for Libraries, an ongoing OIF project, is creating a network of =
attorneys involved in, and concerned with, the defense of the freedom to =
read and the application of constitutional law to library policies, =
principles, and problems. =20

Since 2002, seven regional training institutes have been held in Boston, =
Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Seattle.  =
The Texas Library Association will hold a Lawyers for Libraries preconferen=
ce in Houston, on April 25, 2006, during its annual conference.  To date, =
over 200 attorneys, trustees, and librarians have attended these trainings,=
 and an e-list has been created to allow for ongoing communication.

Topics addressed include the USA PATRIOT Act, Internet filtering, the =
library as a public forum, meeting room and display area policies, and how =
to defend against censorship of library materials. =20
As OIF continues to sponsor institutes, more and more attorneys are =
learning about the intricacies of First Amendment law as applied to =
libraries, and the country's library users can be more secure knowing that =
their rights will continue to be vigorously protected.

For more information about the Lawyers for Libraries project, please =
contact Jonathan Kelley at jkelley at ala.org or 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4226.

LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund

At the 2005 Annual Conference, the LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund =
celebrated its 35th anniversary.  The Merritt Fund is stronger than ever, =
and continues to assist librarians who have been harmed in their jobs due =
to discrimination or their defense of intellectual freedom.  For more =
information on the LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund, visit http://www.mer=
rittfund.org.

2006 Banned Books Week

ALA's annual celebration of the freedom to read=AFBanned Books Week=AFbegin=
s September 23 and continues through September 30, 2006; it marks BBW's =
25th anniversary.  This year's theme=AFRead Banned Books: They're Your =
Ticket to Freedom=AFhighlights that intellectual freedom is a personal and =
common responsibility in a democratic society.  More information on the =
twenty-fifth BBW can be found at http://www.ala.org/bbooks.  =09
________________________________________

In closing, the Intellectual Freedom Committee thanks the Division and =
Chapter Intellectual Freedom Committees, the Intellectual Freedom Round =
Table, the unit liaisons, and the OIF staff for their commitment, =
assistance, and hard work.

Respectfully Submitted,

ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee
Kenton L. Oliver (Chair)
Sybil L. Boutilier
Jack Forman
Carrie Gardner
Martin L. Garnar
Nancy Kranich
Peg Oettinger
Thomas C. Phelps
Lara L. Rudolph
Stephanie C. Sarnoff
James K. Teliha
Samantha Schmehl Hines (Intern)
Bowie Kotrla (Intern)
Bianca Roberts (Intern)
=20