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Intellectual Freedom Interest Group (IFIG)

Exploring intellectual freedom and how it informs our work. Intellectual Freedom Interest Group resources, discussion prompts, and information.

IFIG Common Read: Library Neutrality

Kirkland, A. B. (2021). Library Neutrality as Radical Practice. Canadian School Libraries Journal. https://journal.canadianschoollibraries.ca/library-neutrality-as-radical-practice/

"If neutrality in librarianship really means not being intellectual freedom activists, then it has no place. But I contend that the notion of neutrality does have its place in library ethics. Understanding where that place resides is key."

Deep Dive: Library Neutrality

Trade Sources

Are libraries neutral? Highlights from the Midwinter president's program. (2018). American Libraries. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2018/06/01/are-libraries-neutral/

[video] American Library Association. (2018, Feb. 11). ALA Midwinter 2018 - Should libraries be neutral? [Video, 2 min.] YouTube. https://youtu.be/eRdUMNDHw60?si=34LOyxCzYyDFufYc

Berninghausen, D. K. (1972). Antithesis in librarianship: Social responsibility vs. the Library Bill of Rights. Library Journal, 97(20), 3675-3681. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f25cwxQp5SvZIQ3ayvwSrBpeKL2pHeDA/view?usp=sharing [PSU login required]

Cooke, N. A. et al. (2022). Once more for those in the back: Libraries are not neutral. Publisher's Weekly. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/89576-once-more-for-those-in-the-back-libraries-are-not-neutral.html

[audio] Dudley, M. (2025, Jan. 19). The neutrality conspiracy [Audio, 24 min]. Heterodoxy in the Stacks. https://hxlibraries.substack.com/p/the-neutrality-conspiracy-03e

Dudley, M. (2023, Aug. 8). Library neutrality and pluralism: A manifesto. Heterodoxy in the Stacks. https://hxlibraries.substack.com/p/library-neutrality-and-pluralism

Social responsibility and the Library Bill of Rights: The Berninghausen debate. (1973). Library Journal, 98(1), 25-41. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1My4RZ4wt2nFA1yLfb6ieV2t5TlTW0Fnn/view?usp=sharing [PSU login required]

Scholarly Articles

Macdonald, S. (2024). Intellectual freedom and social responsibility in library and information science: A reconciliation. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 56(3), 712-727. https://doi.org/10.1177/09610006231160795

Wenzler, J. (2019). Neutrality and its discontents. portal, 19(1), 55-78. https://doi.org/10.1353/pla.2019.0004

Books

Berninghausen, D. K. (1975). The flight from reason: essays on intellectual freedom in the academy, the press, and the library. American Library Association. https://catalog.libraries.psu.edu/catalog/958660

Samek, T. (2001). Intellectual freedom and social responsibility in American librarianship, 1967-1974. McFarland. https://catalog.libraries.psu.edu/catalog/2233579

Discussion Questions: Library Neutrality

  • What are your thoughts about the idea of library neutrality as a radical practice? How did this piece inform your thinking about the relationship between library neutrality and social responsibility (or social justice) work in libraries?
  • The common read addresses library neutrality in the context of school libraries and in Canada / Australia. What ideas transfer well to academic libraries in the US? What is different about our practice context?
  • How do you think library neutrality relates to intellectual freedom? What does this look like in practice?

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