Resources | Educational Programs | Committee Members | Purpose and Objectives | Annual Report |
The OLC's Intellectual Freedom Committee works to help Ohio public libraries become more proactive in addressing intellectual freedom issues by offering resources, educational programs, and support.
Resources
Intellectual Freedom Committee Brochure
Intellectual Freedom Policy
Fundamentals of Intellectual Freedom
The Intellectual Freedom Committee has compiled this list of links, articles, and other resources to help you stay informed about intellectual freedom issues in the areas of censorship and materials challenges, Internet access and filtering, children and teens, Patriot Act, DOPA, CIPA, privacy, human resources, and administrative policies and procedures.
Accessibility Temperature Tool
You need to know the pulse of your community. If you do not, you are encouraged to find out. These are guidelines and suggestions to help you determine what your library's temperature and think about some solutions for wellness. Consider the impact of the barriers that block individuals from their right to the freedom of information. Hopefully the Intellectual Freedom Committee has given you some ideas of how to tear down those walls and provide a welcoming atmosphere for all members of your community. Take the Accessibility Temperature of your library.
Educational Programs
The Intellectual Freedom Committee offers two signature programs upon request to help your library set a solid foundation of staff awareness and organizational response.
"Meeting the Challenge"
This program includes:
- information on intellectual freedom issues that come up most frequently;
- a group activity about challenged titles with participants taking various roles; and
- self-evaluation questionnaires to see how your library policies address children's and YA needs, meeting room use, and patron confidentiality.
"The First Thirty Seconds"
This program includes:
- an overview of intellectual freedom issues and the right to access information;
- practical tips for front-line staff to defuse tense situations; and
- real-life scenarios and practice exercises.
If you would like either program presented to your staff, Friends of the Library, or Board of Trustees, please contact a member of the Intellectual Freedom Committee or the OLC.
Committee Members
Charles Cody, Chair (2012)
Columbus Metro Library
Work: 614-849-1233
Email: ccody@columbuslibrary.org
Julie Arter, Assistant Chair (2012)
Columbus Metro Library, Whetstone Branch
Work: 614-479-3152
Email: jarter@columbuslibrary.org
Thomas Brook, Committee (2014)
Delaware County District Library
Work: 740-362-3861
Email: tbrook@delawarelibrary.org
Kimberly Castle-Alberts, Committee (2014)
Stark County District Library
Work: 330-458-2641
Email: kcastle@starklibrary.org
Andrew Harant, Committee (2013)
Lakewood Public Library
Work: 216-226-8275
Email: aharant@lkwdpl.org
Jeff Regensburger, Committee (2013)
Worthington Libraries
Work: 614-807-2652
Email: jregensb@worthingtonlibraries.org
Amy Switzer, Committee (2014)
Shaker Heights Public Library
Work: 216-991-2030
Email: aswitzer@shakerlibrary.org
C. Nicholas Tepe, Committee (2013)
Columbus Metro Library
Work: 614-849-1203
Email: ntepe@columbuslibrary.org
Ginaya Willoughby, Committee (2012)
Cleveland Public Library, Mt Pleasant Branch
Work: 216-623-7032
Email: gdwilloughby@gmail.com
Molly Carver, Board Liaison
Purpose and Objectives
This committee is responsible for maintaining OLC's policies on intellectual freedom and for offering guidance for specific Ohio problems. The committee works with the Government Relations Committee and the OLC counsel as the need arises, and maintains communication and interaction with other groups whose objectives parallel those of OLC in the area of intellectual freedom. This provides a broad base for action should it become necessary.
- Develop a regular column/feature for Access called "What IF." This feature will offer short scenarios pertaining to libraries and intellectual freedon coupled with a 3-5 sentence answer.
- Develop content and resources that libraries can use for Banned Book Week. This content will be uploaded and made accessible to OLC member libraries through the OLC website.
- Submit three program proposals for chapter conferences.
- Submit at least one intellectual freedom related program proposal for the OLC Convention and Expo. Topics might include policy writing, current news stories, or technology issues and intellectual freedom.
- Continue to offer intellectual freedom training sessions to member libraries as requested.
- Create an online training tool on intellectual freedom geared to new staff, board members and administrators of OLC member libraries. The committee will develop and launch the first module, "An Introduction to Libraries and Intellectual Freedom" in 2011. If that proves successful we can expand offerings over time.
- Create an orientation/information page on the OLC wiki for new mwmbers to help get them up to speed.
Annual Report
Annual Report
