Practicing Intellectual Freedom in Libraries

(Paperback)

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Description

All librarians and library and information science scholars can benefit from learning more about intellectual freedom. This book relies on research and practical real-world scenarios to conceptualize and contextualize it. Practicing Intellectual Freedom in Libraries is helpful for a wide range of people, from those only starting to learn about intellectual freedom to those more well-versed in the subject. For novices, it offers a solid introduction to intellectual freedom, grounded theoretically and empirically; for more experienced scholars and librarians, it provides a uniquely comprehensive analysis of intellectual freedom. Intellectual freedom is important for librarians because it is a foundation of the profession and is truly central to librarianship in the United States. Situating intellectual freedom within freedom of speech theories, this book explains the legal and theoretical foundations for contemporary understandings of intellectual freedom within library science. Additionally, it depicts the importance of community to implementing intellectual freedom and exemplifies this importance in a discussion of actual library practices. Real-world scenarios provide a timely look at intellectual freedom in context, discussing Internet filtering, collection development and weeding, meeting rooms and exhibit spaces, programming, and fake news and misinformation.

Reviews

Oltmann's thoughtful work is an important resource for LIS students, librarians, and administrators alike. * Library Journal *
As a whole, this book is an extremely valuable contribution, taking issues that can easily seem abstractions and instead demonstrating the ways in which they are essential to the nature of all libraries. * The Library Quarterly *
Shannon Oltmann has produced an accessible introduction to the American Library Association's guidance on the professional commitment to intellectual freedom as a foundational value in libraries. [Her book] is of value to practice and could be used for orienting library board members or library staff to the basic principles of intellectual freedom, which would be of benefit to a local community. * Journal of Education for Library and Information Science *
This holistic text considers the complexities of intellectual freedom in libraries and is a must for any collection. * American Libraries *

Author Bio

Shannon M. Oltmann is associate professor in the School of Information Science at the University of Kentucky. Her research interests include censorship, intellectual freedom, information policy, public libraries, privacy, and qualitative research methods.