IF+basics

 //(This page serves as an introduction to some basic principles of intellectual freedom).//

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." //[|Article 1, The U.S. Bill of Rights]//

"Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status." //[|The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 2]//

"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers." //[|The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19]//

Distilling the above statements down to lift out the phrases most critical to the concept of intellectual freedom we can focus on:
 * freedom of speech
 * freedom of opinion
 * freedom of expression
 * the right to seek, receive, and impart information
 * for everyone without interference **//regardless//** of who you are

All of the following information within this wiki hinges on exploring, debating, and understanding these phrases.

//So what would it look like if these statements were missing?//

**__Intellectual Freedom and Democracy__**

“A democratic society operates best when information flows freely and is freely available, and it is the library’s unique responsibility to provide open and unfettered access to that information” [|(Intellectual Freedom Manual] p 45).

For a democracy to function properly its citizens must have access to information, be informed about the issues, know what questions to ask, understand the role of government in daily life, and be able to express themselves without fear of harassment, censorship, or reprisal. Public opinion and political decisions are shaped by open debate and freely questioning what is represented as truth. Inquiry into and understanding of different perspectives is what yields a healthy political system. Informed citizens can hold their elected representatives accountable so that their views are truly represented and their needs met by the political process. Additionally, with the free flow of information, government is made transparent. Citizens can access information necessary to ascertain that what the government does is both ethical and legal. If democracy is government by the people, enacted through elected officials (elected through fair voting), the citizenry need access to information representing a variety of opinions.

Access to information and the freedom of expression are guaranteed as universal human rights not to be infringed on by any government, law, or agency ([|Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 30]). 

Where both truthful and erroneous ideas are available, it is through education that an individual will be able to ascertain which is which. Controversial, unpopular, or subversive ideas demand equal access for a democratic society to exist. Once it has been provided, it is up to the individual to interpret the information and use it or discard it as he/she sees fit.   It is through exposure to a variety of ideas and experiences that an individual develops the ability select and act on that information most beneficial to individual and social prosperity.

**Let's create a special page to continue this discussion. Click here: IF and Democracy.** 

__**Freedom of Expression**__ Freedom of expression directly affects someone's ability to create, retrieve, use, and/or disseminate information. Freedom of expression does not stand by itself, but is supported by the ability to hold an opinion and express it either verbally, written, or in any format yet to be identified. It assumes people are able to hold their opinions without fear of persecution or reprisal. It assumes that disparate, controversial, or objectionable opinions merit equal protection. Without equal protection, we are all subject to having our opinions censored. Quelling an idea, whether through fear or censorship; implicit or explicit, stifles positive social development.

I would like to start a list of resources addressing freedom of expression. Please add to the list below.

[|The Universal Right to Free Expression]: “. . . to encourage the exchange, dissemination, and access to information and the unrestricted flow of library materials in all formats throughout the world.” (from the web page and attributed to the ALA's policy on International Relations).

[|Freedom of Expression]: Amnesty International identifies freedom of expression as a human rights issue.

[|Iran: A Nation of Bloggers]: A moving video about the power of social technology and the freedom of expression.

**And, to continue this discussion** **let's create a special page** **. Click here:** Freedom of Expression

**__American Library Association (ALA) Resources on intellectual freedom__** //(The ALA addresses numerous issues surrounding providing access to information to the general public. Intellectual freedom is but one. I have selected ALA resources I have found helpful in my own journey in understanding Intellectual freedom).//

[|Office for Intellectual Freedom]: The ALA's umbrella office that educates libraries and the public about intellectual freedom [|Intellectual Freedom and Censorship Q&A]: Provides brief summaries of key issues for the ALA concerning intellectual freedom. [|Code of Ethics]: States the values and ethics that underlie librarianship as a profession. [|Library Bill of Rights]: Lists six basic policies that guide library service. [|Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights]: Addresses questions about the application of the general tenets of the Library Bill of Rights [|Libraries: An American Value]: Reflects the integral role libraries have in protecting the freedom of speech in the United States.

 __**Share you opinions**__  **Use the discussion tab at the top of the page to respond to these questions. Feel free to add your own questions too!** How do Article 2 and Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affect your work as a librarian or educator? Or, how do they affect your daily life?

Think about your day to day experience. Are the thoughts expressed by these two articles relevant? How so? Or, what could you do to make their sentiments more meaningful, more alive?

Which article of the Library Bill of Rights do you hold most dear? Which is the hardest for you to follow?

Have you had to fall back on one or more of the articles of the Library Bill of Rights? What were the circumstances? What was the outcome?

What about the Code of Ethics? How does it affect your day to day professional activities? Does it address issues pertinent to your experiences? What would you change/add to make the statements more meaningful or applicable?

Is there a thought or principle you think should be included on this page? Please add it!


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