Association of College and Research Libraries
Intellectual Freedom Principles for Academic Libraries
An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights
Adopted by ACRL Intellectual Freedom Committee: June 28,
1999
Approved by ACRL Board of Directors: June 29, 1999
Adopted by ALA Council July 12, 2000
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A strong intellectual freedom perspective is critical to the
development of academic library collections and services that
dispassionately meet the education and research needs of a college or
university community. The purpose of this statement is to provide an
interpretation of general intellectual freedom principles in an
academic library setting and, in the process, raise consciousness of
the intellectual freedom context within which academic librarians
work. These principles should be reflected in all relevant library
policy documents.
1. The general principles set forth in the Library Bill of
Rights form an indispensable framework for building collections,
services, and policies that serve the entire academic community.
2. The privacy of library users is and must be inviolable.
Policies should be in place that maintain confidentiality of library
borrowing records and of other information relating to personal use
of library information and services.
3. The development of library collections in support of an
institution's instruction and research programs should transcend the
personal values of the selector. In the interests of research and
learning, it is essential that collections contain materials
representing a variety of perspectives on subjects that may be
considered controversial.
4. Preservation and replacement efforts should ensure that
balance in library materials is maintained and that controversial
materials are not removed from the collections through theft, loss,
mutilation, or normal wear and tear. There should be alertness to
efforts by special interest groups to bias a collection through
systematic theft or mutilation.
5. Licensing agreements should be consistent with the Library
Bill of Rights, and should maximize access.
6. Open and unfiltered access to the Internet should be
conveniently available to the academic community in a college or
university library. Content filtering devices and content-based
restrictions are a contradiction of the academic library mission to
further research and learning through exposure to the broadest
possible range of ideas and information. Such restrictions are a
fundamental violation of intellectual freedom in academic libraries.
7. Freedom of information and of creative expression should be
reflected in library exhibits and in all relevant library policy
documents.
8. Library meeting rooms, research carrels, exhibit spaces, and
other facilities should be available to the academic community
regardless of research being pursued or subject being discussed. Any
restrictions made necessary because of limited availability of space
should be based on need, as reflected in library policy, rather than
on content of research or discussion.
9. Whenever possible, library services should be available
without charge in order to encourage inquiry. Where charges are
necessary, a free or low-cost alternative (e.g., downloading to disc
rather than printing) should be available when possible.
10. A service philosophy should be promoted that affords equal
access to information for all in the academic community with no
discrimination on the basis of race, values, gender, sexual
orientation, cultural or ethnic background, physical or learning
disability, economic status, religious beliefs, or views.
11. A procedure ensuring due process should be in place to deal
with requests by those within and outside the academic community for
removal or addition of library resources, exhibits, or services.
12. It is recommended that this statement of principle be
endorsed by appropriate institutional governing bodies, including the
faculty senate or similar instrument of faculty governance.