Skip To Talking Book & Braille Service Content Skip Navigation

NCampus - Nebraska Library Commission

Basic Skills: Resources for Librarians


Intellectual Freedom
and the Core Values of Librarianship


Topic 1: The Core Values of Librarianship

Assigned Readings:

"Serving the Demands of Democracy: The critical role of libraries in ensuring the full civic participation of a diverse population," by Kathleen de la Pena McCook. Threshold. Winter 2004, Pp.22-24,30.

Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights. ALA. Office of Intellectual Freedom.

"Leaders manage the dream," by Patricia Schuman. Wilson Library Bulletin. March 1994, Vol.68, Pp.41-4.

Additional Resources:

Topic 2: Intellectual Freedom and Censorship

Assigned Readings:

"Not Censorship But Selection," by Lester Asheim

"Fear and Loathing: Censorship in all Its Glory," by Pamela Hayes-Bohanan. The Internet Review of Books, October 2008. Vol. 2, #1.

"Case Study: Censorship in Loudoun's Public Libraries." Mainstream Loudoun.

The following three resources are about a challenge in West Bend, WI. The first is a CNN article, giving the facts.  The next two are blogs of people on opposite sides of the controversy.  This case illustrates that debate can become heated.

"Library Fight Riles Up City, Leads to Book-Burning Demand," by Jason Hanna. CNN. July 22, 2009.

Sleepless in West Bend Blog, by "Concerned Citizen"

WISSUP=Wisconsin Speaks Up, Blog by Ginny Maziarka.

Additional Resources:

"Stand up!  Defending Teens' Right to Read at West Bend Community Memorial Library," by Kristin Pekoll.  VOYA, October 2009.

Book Challenges:  Who's Who, posted by Lisa Chellman on her underthecovers.com Blog, on September 30, 2008.

The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA)

The First Amendment First-Aid Kit

Nebraska Intellectual Freedom Handbook

Intellectual Freedom and Censorship Information For Nebraska's Librarians

ALA Intellectual Freedom Manual

Book Censorship Toolkit,  Kid's Right to Read

The Online Books Page Presents Banned Books Online

Finding Censorship Where There is None

Even Banned Books Week Has Its Detractors (Surprise?)


Topic 3: Handling a Challenge

Assigned Readings:

Uncle Bobby's Wedding

Coping With Challenges

Additional Resources:

Support for Dealing with or Reporting Challenges to Library Materials

ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom

A Library's Approach to Books That Offend, by Alison Leigh Cowan.  New York Times, August 19, 2009.


Topic 4: The Right to Privacy

Assigned Readings:

Privacy: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights

Questions and Answers on Privacy and Confidentiality

Library Privacy Policies

Privacy Tool Kit

Law Enforcement Inquiries: Guidelines for Staff. Colorado Association of Libraries, Intellectual Freedom Committee.

Additional Resources:

USA PATRIOT Act and Intellectual Freedom


Topic 5: Copyright and Intellectual Property

Assigned Readings:

What are Patents, Trademarks, Servicemarks, and Copyrights?

Copyright Basics

10 Big Myths about copyright explained

Working With Fair Use

How I learned to love FAIR USE, by Mary Minow

Creative Commons

Motion Picture Performance Copyright Compliance Site License

Additional Resources:

U. S. Copyright Office. Library of Congress.

Copyright Notice for Library Photocopiers and other Reproducing Equipment

Copyright in the Library

Circular 21 Reproduction of Copyrighted Works by Educators and Librarians

Circular 22 How to Investigate the Copyright Status of a Work

Fair Use. U.S. Copyright Office

Library Law:  Copyright and Libraries

U.S. Code.  Title 17

Urban Copyright Legends