Intellectual Freedom and Social Responsibility in American Librarianship, 1967-1974

by Toni Samek

Between 1967 and 1974, a number of librarians came together to push for change in the American Library Association. They soon prompted a majority of the profession to examine their role in the dissemination and preservation of culture and to ask basic questions about the terrain that the profession defends. A particular concern was the limitations to intellectual freedom (if any) that might arise in the pursuit of other perhaps equally worthy goals. The questions raised by this advocacy group were based on a relatively new concept of librarianly social responsibility that was partly an outgrowth of the civil rights and antiwar agitation of the period and partly a continuation of the proud traditions of the alternative press movement in the United States. The resulting dissension and turmoil exposed an inherent discrepancy not only between the rhetoric of ideals within the profession and the reality of practice but between librarians as agents of change--librarians' having a social agenda--and professional "neutrality" or the provision of information for all sides without taking sides. These conflicts have never been resolved. The reader will find in this book a fully researched presentation of the years of ferment and political infighting that brought the issues into such sharp focus.

197 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Haley Hope Gillilan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important history, a lot of it more local to me than what I expected, with the ALA conference in KC, and Columbia public librarian as apart of the congress for change. The Mizzou censorship case that was mentioned, I’ve heard that story all my life, it’s practically legend in my family since we have such strong ties to the university and the j school. I had no idea that it had such serious implications in the library world as well. Wish I had read more about these dissenting voices in my classes.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of a tumultuous time in library history!