A History of ALA Policy on Intellectual Freedom by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LAW050000 Law / Intellectual Property / General
ISBN: 9780838913529
Publisher: American Library Association
Published: 2015-07-05T16:00:00+00:00

Following adoption of the 1980 revision of the Library Bill of Rights, the IFC reviewed the document anew. Working closely with the intellectual freedom committees of the Young Adult Services Division and the Association for Library Service to Children (previously the Children’s Services Division) at the 1981 Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference, the committee made several changes aimed not only at eliminating sex-linked language but also at strengthening the impact of the interpretation. Reference to the 1967 pre-conference was deleted as a historical detail irrelevant to a broad public statement of policy, and several key paragraphs were rewritten to communicate the association’s stand with greater force and clarity.

The Intellectual Freedom Committee also decided to delete from the document paragraphs about the use of dual-card systems and the establishment of rare book rooms as restricted-use areas—which, although not always in violation of the principles of the Library Bill of Rights, have been employed at times in ways that unfairly limit minors’ access to library resources. Limiting discussion of the intellectual freedom implications of such administrative practices to their effects on minors’ access in itself tended to legitimize their misuse, and, the committee concluded, the treatment in the document weakened its overall thrust by appearing to qualify the policy and limit its application. The committee therefore decided to discuss such practices separately and in a more comprehensive way by developing a new interpretation to be titled “Administrative Policies and Procedures Affecting Access to Library Resources and Services.” That interpretation was adopted in 1982 but rescinded in 1992, when the committee adopted “Guidelines for the Development and Implementation of Policies, Regulations, and Procedures Affecting Access to Library Materials, Services, and Facilities.”

On July 1, 1981, the revision of “Free Access to Libraries for Minors” was adopted by the ALA Council. It read as follows:

Some library procedures effectively deny minors access to certain services and materials available to adults. Such procedures and practices are not in accord with the Library Bill of Rights and are opposed by the American Library Association.

Restrictions take a variety of forms, including, among others, restricted reading rooms for adult use only, library cards limiting circulation of some materials to adults only, closed collections for adult use only, collections limited to teacher use, or restricted according to a student’s grade level, and interlibrary loan service for adult use only.

Article V of the Library Bill of Rights states that “A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.” All limitations on minors’ access to library materials and services violate that Article. The “right to use a library” includes use of, and access to, all library materials and services. Thus, practices which allow adults to use some services and materials which are denied to minors abridge the use of libraries based on age.

Materials selection decisions are often made and restrictions are often initiated under the assumption that certain materials may be “harmful” to minors, or in an effort to avoid controversy with parents.

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