Intellectual Freedom About Us

About the Intellectual Freedom Committee

Duties, Goals and Responsibilities

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.

Alyssa Donoho - Co-chair, Oct 2024 - current
Conor Greaney (West-Linn-Wilsonville School District)
Kim Olson-Charles (Eastern Oregon University Library)
Marie Felgentrager, OASL IF Representative (Roseburg School District)
Shelby Paulson (Bend-La Pine Schools) - Co-chair, Oct 2024 - current
Mackenzie Isaak (Cook Memorial Library, La Grande)
Emily O'Neal (Deschutes Public Library)
Perry Stokes (Baker County Library District)
Steve Silver (Linfield University, McMinnville) Seat open
Zach Welhouse (Oregon State University)
Darin Stewart, ex officio (Parents Defending Schools and Libraries) Seat open
Jennifer Maurer, ex officio (State Library of Oregon)
Tamara Ottum, ex officio (Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse)

Map of members' geographic representation.Contact information for the committee, including listserv and social media, is available on the Contact IFC webpage.

Chair/Co-chair history

IFC meetings are held online and by phone via Zoom on the 2nd Friday of each month at 1:00 pm PT. The public portion begins around 2:00 pm. All are welcome to attend. Guests will be placed in a waiting room before joining.
Contact [email protected] if you are interested in attending one of the committee meetings.