NYLA and Intellectual Freedom

NYLA's Commitment to Intellectual Freedom
The New York Library Association demonstrates its commitment to intellectual freedom through many avenues, but primarily through:

Clear and current policy statements about intellectual freedom,
An active Intellectual Freedom Committee that monitors current challenges, maintains this manual, conducts surveys and reports major intellectual freedom issues to NYLA Council,
An Intellectual Freedom Roundtable, which all NYLA members are invited to join,
A Defense Fund that provides financial aid for librarians who are threatened by loss of employment due to their stand on intellectual freedom, and
An annual award and ceremony dedicated to honoring people and organizations who put themselves on the line to preserve intellectual freedom.
NYLA Intellectual Freedom Policy Statements
The goal to protect and promote intellectual freedom and the First Amendment right of free expression and to ensure equitable access to information is backed up by policy statements and resolutions.

In 2000 and 2001, NYLA took several actions that affirmed its commitment to intellectual freedom. First, in January 2000, NYLA Council voted to support the American Library Association in its challenge to the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), and pledged $2,000 in support to the legal fund for this purpose. Next, in June 2001, NYLA adopted a strong resolution in support of the challenge to CIPA, the NYLA Statement Concerning CIPA, and an equally clear and forthright resolution stating NYLA's commitment to an uncensored Internet for library users, the NYLA Statement on Internet Filtering. When you support NYLA, you support intellectual freedom!

The NYLA Intellectual Freedom Committee
The President of NYLA appoints members and chairs to the NYLA Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC). Chair appointments are for one year, from the end of the annual conference to the end of the following annual conference. Committee appointments expire at the end of conference of the year indicated.

NYLA Intellectual Freedom Committee recommends to and interprets policy for NYLA, responds to threats to intellectual freedom involving libraries in New York State and supports other organizations that promote intellectual freedom in New York State and the nation. Specifically, the Intellectual Freedom Committee shall:

Be informed of all current intellectual freedom issues and legislation occurring in New York State, and keep abreast of issues and legislation occurring outside New York State;
Respond to and attempt correction of all infringements and violations by any individual group or library of the principles of intellectual freedom as set forth by the American Library Association in the Library Bill of Rights;
Act in concert with the Legislative Committee of NYLA to analyze and, as needed, act upon legislation that might have an impact on intellectual freedom;
Upon request, consult with any librarian whose employment or position is threatened in an incident involving intellectual freedom and if necessary, refer the matter to the president of NYLA;
Upon request assist other organizations in responding to infringements and violations of the principles of intellectual freedom
Maintain a clearinghouse of information concerning intellectual freedom for the use of the Committee and other members of NYLA.
Seeking Assistance from the NYLA Intellectual Freedom Committee
The New York Library Association cannot provide legal counsel or direct funding to handle requests for reconsideration of materials but will, through its Intellectual Freedom Committee, offer the skills, experience and energy of its membership to defend established intellectual freedom principles.

To help it respond on behalf of libraries and librarians in New York who have received requests for reconsideration of items in their collections, the NYLA Intellectual Freedom Committee needs to be aware of such incidents. Any library staff, friend or trustee who knows of a problem is encouraged to contact the chair of the NYLA/IFC. The NYLA/IFC chair will advise you how to cope with the reported situation. The chair may, if appropriate, refer you to a NYLA/IFC member with special experience or training by type of library (i.e., school, public, academic, special). Every effort will be made to respond to reported incidents with guidance that is timely, practical and effective. NYLA/IFC will never usurp the local librarian's prerogative to resolve their own problem as the local context deems suitable or necessary, and unless requested otherwise, confidentiality is assured.

Use the Incident Report and Request form in this manual to report incidents or request assistance. You may submit it by fax, mail, or email.

SIRS Intellectual Freedom Award
The SIRS Intellectual Freedom Award is an annual award recognizing the contribution of an individual or group who has actively promoted intellectual freedom in New York.

Each year, the NYLA/IFC seeks nominees for the award. Nominations may be made in writing to the NYLA/IFC. A form with criteria for selecting a recipient is included in this manual. The award is presented at the annual conference of the New York Library Association.

Past recipients include:

2001 - Andrew Dancer
2000 - Dr. Jeffrey Bowen
1999 - Fran Aveta
1998 - Clifford Dietrich
1996 - Lancaster High School Library
1995 - William K. Sanford Colonie Town Library
1994 - Sam Simon
1993 - Anna Quindlan
1992 - Library Media Specialists of the Webster Central School District
1991 - Carol Reid
1990 - Dr. Sean A. Fanelli
1989 - Long Island Coalition Against Censorship
1988 - Marie Bruni
1987 - Merrick Public Library
1986 - David Cohen
1985 - Gerald R. Shields
1984 - Robert Trudell

The Intellectual Freedom Roundtable
The purpose of the Intellectual Freedom Round Table is to provide a forum for the membership of the New York Library Association in which to exchange information, develop special educational and informational programs, and provide support for the activities of the New York Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Committee in the promotion of freedom of acquisition, dissemination, and maintenance of library materials and services. The group uses as its basic statements of policy the Library Bill of Rights, the Freedom to Read statement, and the Freedom to View statement.