For Freedom's Sake

While intellectual freedom is held near and dear by most practicing librarians, the wide range of new formats (video and Internet, among them) have led to fresh concerns in the profession over increasingly vociferous challenges from more organized groups, such as Family Friendly Libraries. The video features Judith Krug, from ALA's Office of Intellectual Freedom, maintaining that our policies regarding the Internet should be no different from those concerning any other format, while Video Librarian editor Randy Pitman (um...that would be me) counters that the new technologies are indeed different and that we need to truly examine what we're doing. For Freedom's Sake reiterates the six planks of the Library Bill of Rights, includes interviews with librarians working on the front line who discuss strategies for dealing with censorship challenges, and concludes with a series of vignettes for staff discussion. An accompanying brochure includes additional tips and techniques for both public and school libraries. While nothing earth-shaking is offered here, the video would make a good discussion starter, forcing staff to examine traditional intellectual freedom documents in the context of recent additions to the library's growing multimedia offerings. Recommended. Aud: J, H, C, P. (R. Pitman)