ALA ANNUAL 2022 and Intellectual Freedom

Friday, June 24

• 9:00am – 10:00am
  • Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) Meeting I
    • This meeting is open to non-committee members to observe and it is a pretty interesting committee. Highly recommended!
  • 206, Washington Convention Center
• 10:30am – 11:30am
  • Library and Vendor Privacy Community of Practice
    • Meeting for the first time, this group is discussing vendor privacy issues, if this isn’t for you, it might be for your building technical services person!
  • 201, Washington Convention Center
• 4:00pm – 5:30pm
  • ALA Opening General Session – In Conversation: ALA President Patricia “Patty” Wong and FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel 
    • Everyone should attend the opening session! Rosenworcel is chairperson of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), should be an interesting chat with ALA President Wong.
  • Ballroom ABC, Washington Convention Center
• 7:00pm – 8:30pm
  • Freedom to Read Celebration
    • Time to relax and network with Freedom to Read folks.
  • Marriott Marquis (check hotel schedule for room)

Saturday, June 25

• 9:00am – 10:00am
  • Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) Meeting
    • If the idea of going to the IF Committee feels a little overwhelming, come to chat with the folks at the IF round table.
  • 153, Washington Convention Center
• 10:00am – 11:30am
  • ALA Membership and Information Meeting
    • Okay,  not specific to intellectual freedom but with so many changes being proposed for the Association, could be worth investigating.
  • Liberty Ballroom, Marriott Marquis
• 11:00am – 12:00pm
  • Intellectual Freedom, Media Literacy, and Access to Information: A conversation with The New York Times
    • This session focuses on “misinformation and censorship” what could be more interesting?
  • 151B, Washington Convention Center
• 1:00pm – 2:00pm
  • Top Ten Banned Author: A Conversation with George M. Johnson , author of “All Boys Aren’t Blue” and “We are Not Broken
    • A session about young adult literature but still worth listening to.
  • 146B, Washington Convention Center
• 2:30pm – 3:30pm
  • Addressing Critical Race Theory Challenges in Your Library
    • Got that challenge in your library yet? Come get some pointers from the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom
  • 146A, Washington Convention Center
• 4:00pm – 5:00pm
  • R.L. Stine: Conference Speaker
    • This frequently challenged author to speak on a new series.
  • Ballroom ABC, Washington Convention Center
• 5:30pm – 7:00pm
  • University of Illinois iSchool Downs Intellectual Freedom Award Reception
    • Time to relax again
  • Shaw Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott

Sunday, June 26

• 9:00am – 10:00am
  • Intellectual Freedom and the Law: Obscenity, Minors’ Rights, and First Amendment Audits Redux
    • The ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom and the Freedom to Read Foundation team up to talk about the rights of minors – important stuff!
  • 151B, Washington Convention Center
•  10:30am – 12:00pm
  • ALSC Interest Meetup
    • Come chat about working with young children (not related to intellectual freedom) and then hang out with the ALSC Intellectual Freedom Committee members and find out what this committee is all about! AND afterwards, meet up with the IF committee members for a brief meet and greet to find out more about the ALSC Intellectual Freedom Committee… All are welcomed!
  •  Marriott Marquis, Cherry Blossom
• 2:30pm – 3:30pm
  • Joint Meeting of Committee on Legislation (COL) and Office of Intellectual Freedom (OIF)
    • These days it seems that much legislation is linked to challenges to intellectual freedom, come observe the committees at work
  • 101, Washington Convention Center
• 4:00pm – 5:00pm
  • Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) Meeting II
  • 206, Washington Convention Center

Monday, June 27

Monday, June 27

• 10:30am – 11:30am
  • Privacy Field Guides: Take Action on Privacy in Your Library
    • Come learn about information you can use in addressing privacy issues in your library.
  • 150B, Washington Convention Center
• 2:30pm – 3:30pm
  • News You Can Use: Updates from the Working Group on Intellectual Freedom and Social Justice
    • This working group is about to submit a proposal to the ALA Council that addresses library “neutrality” this session promises to be very interesting.
  • 151B, Washington Convention Center

Hope to see you in D.C.!!!!

(Look for conference highlights in our July!)

Allison G. Kaplan is co-chair of the ALSC Intellectual Freedom Committee.