Judith Krug Fund Banned Books Week event grants now open

Applications for 2013 Judith Krug Fund Banned Books Week event grants now open

CHICAGO—Applications are now open for the 2013 Judith F.Krug Memorial Fund Banned Books Week event grants, sponsored by the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF). Grants in the amounts of $2,500 and $1,000 will be given to organizations in support of "Read-Outs” or other activities that celebrate Banned Books Week (Sept. 22 – 30, 2013).

Applications for the grants will be accepted through April 30, 2013, and the announcements will be made in June.

The Freedom to Read Foundation - the First Amendment legal defense affiliate of the American Library Association - is an official sponsor of Banned Books Week.

This is the fourth year Krug Fund grants will be given. Eight organizations received grants in 2012, six in 2011 and seven in 2010 . A compilation video of 2012 recipients can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPK0e1KMgeg. Photos from all 21 projects are available at www.facebook.com/freedomtoread, and additional information about all the funded events is at www.ftrf.org/?Krug_BBW.

Organizations are required to submit an event description, timeline and budget with their application; they also will agree to provide a written report, photos and video from their event(s) toFTRFfollowing Banned Books Week.Only not-for-profit organizations may apply. They need not have official 501(c) 3 status. Krug Fund grants cannot be used to buy computer hardware.

Going forward beginning in 2013, organizations may only be awarded grants twice within a six-year period.

For more information on Banned Books Week, challenges to materials in libraries and schools and resources for combating censorship, visit www.ala.org/bbooks. A compendium of thousands of books that have been banned and challenged can be found in the 2010 "Banned Books Resource Guide," available through the ALA Store: www.alastore.ala.org. You also can purchase Banned Books Week posters, buttons, bookmarks, t-shirts, bracelets and tote bags there.

Contact Jonathan Kelley at jokelley@ala.org with questions, or call (800) 545-2433, ext.4226.

Judith F. Krug,FTRF’s first executive director, was passionate about Banned Books Week and defending the freedom to read. After her death, the Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund was established to guarantee that the message of Banned Books Week would continue to spread and grow around the UnitedStates.

An informal guide to IF-supportive candidates

ALA Election season is upon us. We know you have many issues of concern in the profession. If intellectual freedom drives your voting choices, please make use of this  informal guide to IF-supportive candidates 

With thanks to Jim Kuhn for his assistance and to Julia Warga for her permission, here's a list of ALA candidates who have shown dedication to intellectual freedom in their memberships to IFC, IFRT, their professional histories or statements of concern.


(The ALA election polls have opened and will close on Friday, April 26th.) 

An informal guide to IF-supportive candidates for ALA Council 2013. (updated March 20, 2013)

NOTE:
These names are provided for informational purposes only and imply no endorsement of the candidates.  Please report any error or omission to Acrewd@live.com (I, Ann Crewdson, claim responsibility for this list.)

Candidates for ALA President
Barbara F. ImrothCourtney L. Young

Candidates for Councilor-at-Large
Abdullahi, IsmailBell, Gladys SmileyChou, MinCrewdson, AnnDowning, KarenGarcia-Febo, LoidaGarnar, MartinHand, DorcasHires, WillHogan, Patricia M.Kamm, SueKemp, ViccyKratz, CharlesMargolis, BernardMatthews, Stephen L.Milone Hill, NanciNickel, Robbie L.Pecoraro, JohnReech-Harper, Celise AnnReynolds, KevinRomans, LarryRubin, RachelRushton, ErinTeliha, JimToriola, TemitopeWilliams, J. Linda

Intellectual Freedom Round Table to hold 40th anniversary celebration at Chicago Cultural Center

We're 40 this year! Come help us celebrate, at the Chicago Cultural Center, during the Annual ALA conference this summer!

Tickets available now!  Visit http://www.ala.org/ifrt/ifrt-40th-anniversary-celebration for more information

CHICAGO - After 40 years of defending and upholding First Amendment
rights, it is time for a party. Come join the Intellectual Freedom Round
Table (IFRT) from 7:30 - 10 p.m. on Friday, June 28, 2013 at the
magnificent Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington St. at Michigan
Ave.) for our 40th Anniversary Celebration. This event is held in
conjunction with the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.

Tickets for this worthy event are $30 for IFRT members and $40 for
non-members.  If you are not a member, consider joining IFRT for only
$15 and become involved in some of the most important issues in the
library community.  Tickets for students are $20.  All tickets are
available via ALA's Annual Conference registration system (note: you do
not have to register for the Annual Conference to attend).
Refreshments, including signature cocktails, will be served.

Proceeds from this event will benefit IFRT's prestigious John Phillip
Immroth Memorial Award, honoring the courage, dedication and
contribution of an individual or group setting the finest example for
the defense and furtherance of the principles of intellectual freedom.
The award was named for John Phillip Immroth, founder and first chair of
the Intellectual Freedom Round Table in 1973.  "The winners of this
award through the years have, without exception, been inspirational to
all of us who know the kind of risk and dedication it takes to stand up
for intellectual freedom," said Charles Kratz, chair of the Immroth
Award committee.  "Our goal is to raise $10,000 for the Immroth Award,
so that it can continue to honor those who richly deserve it for years
to come."  The 2013 Immroth Award recipient will be announced later this
spring.

Sponsorship opportunities are available to individuals and organizations
who wish to help support the event at a higher level.
Sponsorship levels are $100 (Defender), $250 (Advocate) and $500
(Champion) and include tickets, recognition in the program and other
benefits. Sponsorship donations above the price of the tickets are tax
deductible.  To become a sponsor of the IFRT 40th anniversary
celebration, contact Shumeca Pickett atspickett@ala.org or (312)
280-4220.

"The IFRT 40th Anniversary celebration will be a great opportunity to
bring together long-standing and brand new members of the Intellectual
Freedom community to honor our past and look forward to our future,"
says Julia Warga, chair of IFRT. "I invite everyone to come and share in
what promises to be a truly delightful event!"