4/30/13 ALA Bill of Rights

Post date: Apr 30, 2013 5:44:12 PM

"Library Bill of Rights | American Library Association." American Library Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. <http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill

The library bill of rights offers all patrons the right to information from all viewpoints, regardless of age, origin, or background. Libraries need to stand up against censorship, but also be cooperative in demonstrating the right to free speech and all things covered under the first amendment. If meeting rooms are available at the library, they need to be available for everyone, regardless of beliefs of affiliations.

I think these rights should be posted in more libraries in a clearly visible area to all patrons so that when there is an issue about a material, the bill of rights can be referred to. The fact that the bill of rights asks libraries to be cooperative when their materials are being challenged shows that it can be made into an education for the public on what the first amendment protects and how materials are chosen for a collection. I like this because it shows that it is not only a single librarian that censorship issues are against, but the very principles of what it means to have a library, according to the ALA.

It would be a good idea to print this off and have it on hand to give to a patron when they propose censorship for a material, or if any other matter come up regarding information contained in the Bill of Rights.