Come on down to the Stanley A. Milner branch of the Edmonton Public Library for a Banned Books Cafe where you can celebrate your freedom to read, play, think, view, and listen!
Everyone is welcome to share papers they have written or projects they have done on intellectual freedom, or read excerpts from challenged books (there will be selections available, or you can bring your own). Dr. Toni Samek from the U of A's School of Library and Information Studies will be present to ignite the fire of intellectual freedom advocacy in all attendees.
In preparation, perhaps we should all take another look at the Canadian Library Association's Statement on Intellectual Freedom:
"Canadian Library Association / Association canadienne des bibliothèques Position Statement on Intellectual Freedom
Approved by Executive Council ~ June 27, 1974; Amended November 17, 1983; and November 18, 1985
All persons in Canada have the fundamental right, as embodied in the nation's Bill of Rights and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, to have access to all expressions of knowledge, creativity and intellectual activity, and to express their thoughts publicly. This right to intellectual freedom, under the law, is essential to the health and development of Canadian society.
Libraries have a basic responsibility for the development and maintenance of intellectual freedom.
It is the responsibility of libraries to guarantee and facilitate access to all expressions of knowledge and intellectual activity, including those which some elements of society may consider to be unconventional, unpopular or unacceptable. To this end, libraries shall acquire and make available the widest variety of materials.
It is the responsibility of libraries to guarantee the right of free expression by making available all the library's public facilities and services to all individuals and groups who need them.
Libraries should resist all efforts to limit the exercise of these responsibilities while recognizing the right of criticism by individuals and groups.
Both employees and employers in libraries have a duty, in addition to their institutional responsibilities, to uphold these principles."
Thanks for reading!
and
hope to see you there and at the Freedom Ball at the AGA on Saturday,
FLIF
image courtesy of Melbourne Public Library: http://www.melbourne.lib.ia.us/archive/2008/09/banned%20book%20week
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