We affirm our commitment to intellectual freedom with the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, the Freedom to Read, and the Freedom to View statements.
Library Bill of Rights
The Library Bill of Rights affirms that libraries are fundamental forums for information and ideas, requiring them to provide resources representing all points of view and to actively challenge censorship. It mandates that materials cannot be excluded or removed due to disapproval. Crucially, it guarantees that a person's right to use the library and its services cannot be denied based on origin, age, background, or views, and ensures privacy and confidentiality for all patrons.
Freedom to Read
The Freedom to Read statement asserts that the freedom to read is essential to democracy and is guaranteed by the Constitution, urging publishers and librarians to provide the widest diversity of views and expressions—even those that are unorthodox or unpopular. It is rooted in the belief that Americans, by exercising critical judgment, must be free to choose what they read, and that the suppression of ideas is fatal to a democratic society.
Freedom to View
The Freedom to View statement extends intellectual freedom principles to audiovisual materials (film, video, etc.), affirming they must be provided with the broadest possible access and a diversity of viewpoints. Libraries must actively contest censorship and ensure materials are not labeled or prejudged based on content or the producer's beliefs.