What is an Intellectual Freedom Challenge?
An intellectual freedom challenge is a situation where the access to or expression of ideas, information, or materials is contested or restricted due to censorship.
Book Bans
Book bans often begin as a materials challenge, in which a person or group attempts to remove or restrict materials from a library collection or a curriculum.
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Program Challenges
Library program challenges involve attempts to restrict or suppress certain content or topics featured in library events, workshops, or presentations.
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Book Display Challenges
Book display challenges in public and school libraries occur as a result of groups or individuals demanding the removal of certain books from public view.
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We all have a role to play in protecting intellectual freedom. Every action, no matter how small, contributes to the collective effort of safeguarding intellectual freedom and ensuring that diverse ideas and voices continue to thrive.
Library Staff & Board Members
Librarians support intellectual freedom by providing access to a wide range of information and diverse viewpoints, resisting censorship attempts, promoting privacy and confidentiality, defending the right to read, and offering resources and programming that encourage critical thinking and exploration.
Community Members
Community members play an important role in advocating for freedom of speech and expression by engaging in open discussions and campaigns to challenge restrictive policies and protect democratic values.
Unite Against Book Bans
Unite Against Book Bans is a national initiative organized by the American Library Association to empower readers everywhere to stand together in the fight against censorship.
National Coalition Against Censorship
For almost 50 years, NCAC has acted as a first responder to protect freedom of thought and inquiry and oppose censorship by facilitating dialogue between divergent voices and perspectives, including those that have historically been silenced.
Who We Are
Free For All: New Yorkers for Intellectual Freedom consists of librarians, library workers, library friends, library trustees, and those who utilize and are advocates for their libraries across New York State. Together, we are dedicated to ensuring our libraries and librarians are supported and are prepared for any intellectual freedom challenges that may come their way.
You may also want to learn more about the New Yorkers for Better Libraries Political Action Committee, which allows library supporters in New York to play a role in electing to state offices people who are willing to commit their full support to libraries.
Contact Us
Free For All: New Yorkers for Intellectual Freedom is dedicated to ensuring libraries and library workers are supported and prepared for any intellectual freedom challenges they may experience.
We want to hear from you! Please use the form to contact us and someone from the FFANY team will get back to you.
*These numbers are from the American Library Association in their 2022 National Report