About the Intellectual Freedom Committee
Duties, Goals and Responsibilities of the Intellectual Freedom Committee per OLA Bylaws
- To aid development of OLA's position on intellectual freedom, interpret it to the public, and act in support of this position.
- To inform membership of any pending legislation, that would strengthen the positions of libraries and other (media) avenues of communication as instruments of knowledge and culture in a free society, to present its recommendations, and to tender the Association's support of such legislation.
- To inform membership of any pending legislation ,that would jeopardize the freedom of the press and the freedom of inquiry; to inform legislators of the Association's point of view, and to appear before the Legislature in opposition to any bill which would abridge the citizen's freedom to read.
- To determine facts in cases of public controversy over censorship, develop a statement of OLA's position in relation to the controversy, and to present the Association's position to all interested parties, including the press, when this is judged wise or necessary.
- To promote development and adoption by libraries of policies that reflect diverse points of view and to collect and make available examples of materials selection policies for all types of libraries.
- To develop liaison with other statewide organizations interested in intellectual freedom for the purpose of working jointly to defend intellectual freedom and, when necessary, to issue joint statements.
- To respond to the OLA President's charge.
Committee Members (Nine)
- Emily O'Neal, Chair (Deschutes Public Library)
- Miranda Doyle, OASL IF Chair (Lake Oswego Schools)
- Alyssa Donoho (Josephine Community Library District)
- Marie Felgentrager (Roseburg School District)
- Samantha Schmehl Hines (Linn-Benton Community College)
- Steve Silver (Linfield University, McMinnville)
- Valerie Stephenson (Southern Wasco County Library District)
- Perry Stokes (Baker County Library District)
- Kim Olson-Charles (University of Western States)
- Darin Stewart, ex-officio (Parents Defending Schools and Libraries)
- Jennifer Maurer, ex officio (State Library of Oregon)
Map of members' geographic representation.
Contact information for the committee, including listserv and social media, is available on the Contact IFC webpage.
Meetings
- Meetings are generally scheduled for the 2nd Friday of each month at 9:30 AM. They are held online and via phone using Zoom.
- Contact [email protected] if you are interested in attending one of the committee meetings.
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