For those of you who don’t know, I have enrolled in graduate school to get my Masters in Library and Information Science. It has kept me from writing much on both this blog and my fiction, but I am enjoying the endeavor. I will write more about my library experiences, but this post is an assignment based on ethical and advocacy issues in Library and Information Science (LIS). I’ve chosen the issue of intellectual freedom, which holds a special place in my heart. After all, I have a lot of IP to protect and our ability to think freely must be not only protected, but encouraged.
A Brief History of Intellectual Freedom in LIS
Libraries have long been champions of free thought. The American Library Association’s (ALA) Library Bill of Rights, which was first adopted in 1939, states that libraries are forums for information and ideas, and should challenge censorship in all forms, (https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill, 2025).
Throughout the history of the United States, librarians have stood at the forefront for intellectual freedom. Libraries are democratic institutions, ensuring that every person has the right to seek, receive, and impart information without restriction. We hold up the First Amendment rights to speech, the press, and assembly.
We have had a battle with censorship in our country since its inception. From bans about speaking poorly about the government, to restrictions of populations that could access the library, to blocking information on the internet, libraries have fought for intellectual freedom the entire way.
Ethical Foundations
What Is Intellectual Freedom?
Intellectual freedom encompasses a respect for the inherent autonomy and dignity of the individual and their right to think independently and form their own ideas and opinions through free and open inquiry (Hirsh, 2022). This means that all persons, regardless of race, sex, socioeconomic status, or any other reason, have the right to be able to think their own thoughts, to come to their own conclusions, and to be able to do so by having access to all information.
Balancing Access With Community Standards
Libraries are neutral ‘third places’, but even with this neutrality, libraries have to fight against censorship and discrimination. We also have to do this while being an institution on behalf of the community. The community standards may not necessarily align with the open inquiry of knowledge. Libraries have to safeguard the freedom of expression with the desires of the community it serves.
Privacy as a Pillar of Free Inquiry
Privacy is important for free inquiry. What a person researches or reads should not affect other parts of their lives. For this reason, libraries are staunch about their privacy policies. The American Library Association states that “A lack of privacy and confidentiality has a chilling effect on users’ selecting, accessing, and using library resources. Everyone has the right to use the library without unjust surveillance or intrusion. Minors have the same rights to privacy as adults. Library users expect their data to be protected and kept private,” (ALA, 2025).
Contemporary Threats to Intellectual Freedom
Today’s challenges are more complex than ever:
- Book Bans: Across the U.S., school and public libraries are seeing a surge in book challenges—often targeting titles about race, gender, and sexuality.
- Digital Gatekeeping: Algorithms and search engines can filter out controversial content, limiting access without users even realizing it.
- Political Pressure: Laws and policies are increasingly being used to restrict what libraries can offer, especially in educational settings.
- Misinformation and Moderation: Libraries must walk a fine line between curating credible sources and avoiding censorship.
Did You Know? The ALA reported over 1,200 book challenges in 2024 alone—a record-breaking number (https://www.ala.org/bbooks/book-ban-data, 2024).
Advocacy in Action
Librarians aren’t just stewards of information, we’re advocates. We fight for intellectual freedom in a myriad of ways.
- Events like Banned Books Week spotlight censorship and celebrate the freedom to read.
- The LIS community lobbies against restrictive legislation and supports laws that protect access and privacy.
- Libraries partner with educators, activists, and marginalized groups to ensure inclusive collections.
- Ethical decision-making is a key part of LIS education, preparing librarians to respond to challenges with confidence and integrity.
Real-World Examples
These issues are not theoretical, but have actual consequences in the world around us, limiting our access to information. In 2023, the American Civil Liberties Union sued Wentzville School District in Missouri for banning several titles, including The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison; Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic Paperback, by Alison Bechdel; Heavy: An American Memoir, by Kiese Laymon; Lawn Boy, by Jonathan Evison; All Boys Aren’t Blue, by George M. Johnson; Gabi, a Girl in Pieces, by Isabel Quintero; Modern Romance, by Aziz Ansari and Eric Klinenberg; and Invisible Girl, by Lisa Jewell. All these books, which have received critical acclaim, engage with themes at the intersection of gender, sexuality, and race. After the court case, all but one of the books were returned to the shelves. (ACLU, 2024).
In 2022, the residents of Llano County, TX sued officials after 17 books were taken off the public library circulation. They included books They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group and Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen as well as other books dealing with racial justice and transgender issues. After the case was taken to the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals, the judge sided with the officials of Llano County, stating that the patrons of the library did not have the right to demand information from the government. (Associated Press, 2024).
Looking Ahead
As technology evolves, so do the ethical questions. Currently, the library community is contending with questions about many issues.
AI and Algorithms
AI and algorithms are created to show you content that one has searched for before. It creates an echo chamber of information, not offering other viewpoints to an issue. How do we ensure discovery tools don’t reinforce bias?
Global Access
Though my degree is specific to the United States laws and statutes, my belief is that intellectual freedom must extend beyond borders and languages. Many countries are restrictive on what information their citizens can access. To combat this, Minecraft has created The Uncensored Library, a place where books that are banned in other countries are digitally located so that the citizens of those countries can read them in their native languages (Staff, 2023).
Misinformation
Libraries must teach digital literacy without becoming arbiters of truth. We must not censor material in an attempt to teach only the truth, however, we need to educate citizens on how to discern misinformation and false media from what is truly happening.
Intellectual freedom is the heartbeat of librarianship. In a time of rising censorship and digital control, LIS professionals must remain vigilant advocates for open access, diverse voices, and the right to think freely.
What does intellectual freedom mean to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
References:
American Library Association. (2025). ala.org
American Civil Liberties Union. (2024). C.K.-W v Wentzville R-IV School District. https://www.aclu.org/cases/ck-w-v-wentzville-r-iv-school-district-0
Hirsh, Sandra, ed. (2022). Information Services Today : An Introduction, Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/uncg/detail.action?docID=6891082
Press, T. A. (2024, September 24). A Texas County has told an appeals court it has a right to cull books on sex, gender and racism. Newsday. https://www.newsday.com/news/nation/llano-county-library-books-removed-racism-transgender-l59468
Staff. (2023, November 1). The Uncensored Library. Minecraft.net. https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/uncensored-library
Katherine LE White 
Leave a comment