ALSC’s Intellectual Freedom committee is proud to announce the launch of its Intellectual Freedom Programming Toolkit. Over the past two years, the committee has created a series of blog posts that incorporate information literacy and intellectual freedom concepts into standing, everyday library programs. The new toolkit builds off of this work.
What’s Inside
Inside the toolkit, you will find practical, easy-to-implement tips for incorporating intellectual freedom and Information literacy into library cornerstone programs and services. Sample programs include storytimes, book clubs, outreach, and STEAM activities. They include both virtual and in-person activities, so you can serve your community flexibly, regardless of your current service model. An annotated list of additional resources rounds out the toolkit, making it easy for busy practitioners to find more tips and support.
We’re living in a climate of misinformation and heightened mistrust in news media and other information sources. Raising awareness of information literacy and intellectual freedom issues with our families has never been more important. Developing these crucial skills helps keep kids informed, safe, and prepared to support their communities.
Beyond Banned Books Week
As busy practitioners, it can be easy to limit the time we focus our work in these areas to only once a year with Banned Books Week, when we create special programs and displays. The goal of this toolkit is to provide support for making these important concepts a consistent, embedded, holistic feature in your current library programming, without creating extra work or worrying that a program like this won’t be attended.
On behalf of the committee, we hope that you find this toolkit useful and we welcome your thoughts and ideas on how we can continue to support your efforts.
Our guest blogger today is Brooke Sheets, member of the ALSC Intellectual Freedom Committee. She is the Senior Librarian of the Children’s Literature Department of the Los Angeles Public Library. Please note that as a guest post, the views expressed here do not represent the official position of ALA or ALSC.