Intellectual Freedom Committee

Purpose: To uphold the value of intellectual freedom in Virginia's libraries by monitoring and reporting on intellectual freedom issues in the Commonwealth.

Upcoming Activities and Events

Congratulations to the 2019 winners of our annual Banned Books Week contest!

Best Public Library display: Chesapeake Public Library, Dr. Clarence V Cuffee Branch, Chesapeake, VA
Best Academic Library display: Rappahannock Community College, Glenns Campus Library, Saluda, VA
Best School Library: Corporate Landing Middle School, Virginia Beach, VA

Freedom of Information Day - March 16
VLA Intellectual Freedom Committee participates in the annual Wreath-Laying Ceremony at James Madison’s grave at Montpelier. This event is free and open to the public.
Sunshine Week - the week that includes March 16
Choose Privacy Week - the first week of May

Banned Books Week - September 22-28, 2019

Resources and Continuing Education

Intellectual Freedom Issues and General Resources

ALA Intellectual Freedom Blog
Intellectual Freedom E-Learning: recordings of free webinars presented by the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom
Thomas Jefferson Center for Free Expression
Virginia Coalition for Open Resources (The VLA is a member of VCOR)
Your Guide to Reporting Censorship
ALA Selection & Reconsideration Policy Toolkit for Public, School, and Academic Libraries
"Exhibit Spaces and Bulletin Boards: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights,” American Library Association
“Library-Initiated Programs as a Resource: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights,” American Library Association
“Library Privacy Guidelines & Checklists,” American Library Association
“Meeting Rooms: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights,” American Library Association

Privacy Issues

Protecting Your Online Privacy: Risks And Strategies (An Infopeople Webinar, 11/9/2017)
Choose Privacy Week Webinars
I SPY webinar
Library Freedom Project

Banned Books Week Info

Banned Books Week Information
ALA Banned Books Information
Fifty Shades of Banned Books (8/10/2016)

Fake News Info & Resources

A great list of resources and webinars related to Fake News from the library world

Reporting Challenges

Has your library experienced a challenge or a reconsideration of your materials, displays, website content, or another intellectual freedom issue? Let the VLA Intellectual Freedom Committee know, and we can offer support, guidance, and resources for you and your library. If you aren’t sure what constitutes a reconsideration or a challenge, please report it and let us know anyway.

Contact: VLA Intellectual Freedom Committee Co-Chairs, Hayley Tompkins [email protected] or Rebecca Lamb [email protected]

The American Library Association collects statistics on challenges as well to monitor trends in intellectual freedom issues. If you have received a challenge at your library, please fill out their quick and easy challenge report (this can be submitted anonymously).