What is Intellectual Freedom (IF) ? 

“Intellectual freedom [is] the freedom to hold, receive and disseminate ideas without restriction”  –Wikipedia 

“Intellectual freedom is every learner’s right.”   –AASL Standards, 2018 

“The school librarian assume a leadership role in protecting minors’ First Amendment right to read and receive information and ideas.”  –AASL, Intellectual Freedom and Censorship Q & A 

What is MAME IF and what can we do for you?  

• Inform you of Intellectual Freedom issues in Michigan and around The US 
• Provide resources and helps (like a sample materials selection policy…see below) 
• Support you when facing a real or potential challenge 

What can you do for Intellectual Freedom? 

• Select books with students’ needs/interests at the forefront 
• Ask: If not your library, where?  If not now, when? 
• Build diverse collections that reflect your users 
• Create a materials selection policy that includes a reconsideration form, and process 
• If you know of a challenge, contact MAME IF or ALA OIF (Information is always confidential) 

MAME IF Resources:

MAME IF Page Write-Up
File Size:	35 kb
File Type:	docx

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Materials Selection Policy Sample Viewable
File Size:	128 kb
File Type:	docx

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Materials Selection Policy Sample Editable
File Size:	128 kb
File Type:	docx

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Further information:

MAME Intellectual Freedom Chair: Martha Spear

ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom
Telephone: 800-545-2433 ext. 4220 
email: oif@ala.org

​National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Intellectual Freedom Center 
email:  IntellectualFreedom@ncte.org