Librarians have varying professional and personally held values relating to the topic of intellectual freedom (IF). This session frames a conversation about participants’ values on IF through American Library Association (ALA) policy documents on the topic and asks participants to consider their own values and where religious values may support or oppose IF.
Conversation questions: 1. What does “intellectual freedom” mean to you? 2. Where does religion support intellectual freedom? Where does religion oppose it? 3. What role should personal religious beliefs play in the professional practice of librarianship (if any)? 4. What role do personal ethics and/or personally held religious beliefs have in your professional practice of librarianship?
Though not a prerequisite, conversation may be enhanced by these suggested readings.
Suggested readings: Smith, G. A. (2002). Christian librarianship: Essays on the integration of faith and profession. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland & Co.
“Christian librarians and the ethics of the Library Bill of Rights” by S. Kaihoi: https://theolib.atla.com/theolib/article/view/353
“Expressing Intellectual Freedom: A Content Analysis of Catholic Library World from 1980 to 2015” by M. E. Welsh: https://ejournals.library.ualberta.ca/index.php/EBLIP/article/view/27980/21034
