Intellectual freedom is defined by the OIF as "the rights of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment."
The Office for Intellectual Freedom was established in 1967 as part of the American Library Association (ALA). The office has tracked book challenges to public, school and other libraries since 1990.
Every April, the office releases the list of most banned/challenged books from the previous year for National Library Week. During Banned Books Week, they provide information about the current year's data.
OIF publishes a scholarly journal, The Journal of Intellectual Freedom & Privacy, and the weekly newsletter Intellectual Freedom News that tracks news about book bans and challenges and other issues.
Please note: Vicky has written for this blog in the past.
PEN America is the American chapter of an international organization that fights for the civil rights of authors.
As part of its charge, PEN America tracks book bans and challenges in schools and libraries and provides regular reports and data analysis.
The organizations also serves as an advocate for these issues in lawsuits filed to defend the rights of authors.
The NCAC provides resources and tools for those pushing back against censorship attempts.
The CBLDF fights for the rights of comic book writers and artists, and tracks incidents of censorship against comic books.
Coalition members include: American Booksellers for Free Expression, American Library Association, American Society of Journalists and Authors, Amnesty International USA, Association of University Presses, Authors Guild, Banned Books Week Sweden, Children’s Book Council, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), Freedom to Read Foundation, GLAAD, Index on Censorship, Little Free Library, National Book Foundation, National Coalition Against Censorship, National Council of Teachers of English, PEN America, People For the American Way Foundation, PFLAG, and Project Censored. It is also supported by publishers HarperCollins and Penguin Random House.
