Meet the Office for Intellectual Freedom
It seems like this national wave of material and program challenges is never ending. Facing a challenge can be stressful, and trying to figure out what to do can feel overwhelming. The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) is here to help.
What is the OIF and what do they do? Eric Stroshane OIF’s Assistant Director for Member Services, was kind enough to share information about OIF so you know who they are, what they do, and when to contact their office.
Read more: Meet the Office for Intellectual Freedom
A bit more about Eric:
Eric Stroshane worked in public, special, and academic libraries for twenty years prior to signing on with ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. As OIF’s Assistant Director for Member Services, he provides education, advocacy, and confidential support defending the freedom to read. Eric is also responsible for maintaining the Book Résumés website for Unite Against Book Bans (among many other things!).
What is a challenge? When/ what type of challenges should be reported to OIF?
A challenge is an attempt to limit access to anything a library provides—books, movies, programs, displays, databases, you name it. Traditionally these come through the completion of a written form (a request for reconsideration), which we refer to as a “formal challenge.” In recent years, a wide array of informal complaints, including social media pressure, public comments at local governance meetings, flyers, campaign mailers, political action, and even police reports have resulted in censorship. Censorship is any restriction on access to library materials or services based on someone’s opinion that they are inappropriate or dangerous. Everything from a book ban, relocating an item to make it harder to find, requiring parental permission, or blacking out pages or images is an act of censorship. Any censorship attempt or actual censorship should be reported to our office; we also provide support on issues related to First Amendment audits, privacy, meeting room usage, and other issues touching on intellectual freedom.
How is a challenge submitted, and what is the first thing that happens after a challenge submitted to OIF?
Most challenges are submitted to us through our online form but we can also be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at 1-800-545-2433 x4266. Once a report is submitted, it is processed into our database on domestic censorship efforts. If you request support from OIF, we will provide you with confidential support starting with an email or call back from a member of our team. Support is custom tailored to your situation and ongoing through the issue’s resolution. We work with administrators, library workers, and community supporters to defend everyone’s freedom to read.
Are there resources available for staff who refuse to remove books, and as a result lose their job?
The Merritt Humanitarian Fund is available to support anyone who faces adverse employment consequences for defending intellectual freedom or as a result of discrimination. OIF is also happy to consult, but please know that we cannot provide legal advice.
Will OIF be represented at the ALA conference in Philadelphia? Where can folks stop by and say hello?
OIF staff will be all over the place in Philadelphia this year. You can find us at meetings of groups like the Intellectual Freedom Committee and the Committee on Professional Ethics, at the Intellectual Freedom Roundtable and Freedom to Read Foundation Awards on Friday evening, at the Banned Together film screening Saturday evening, at the Unite Against Book Bans and IF exhibit space in the Connect Lounge, reading banned books from The Big Chair, and at various sessions we’re presenting. We’re friendly, so don’t be shy!
Today’s blog post was written by Joanna Goldfarb, Sustainability Innovation Consultant at the Ramapo Catskill Library System on behalf of the ALSC Intellectual Freedom Committee. She can be reached at [email protected].
This post addresses the core competencies of II. Reference and User Services and V. Outreach and Advocacy.
