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Freedom to Read Foundation

Free People Read Freely ®

About FTRF

The Freedom to Read Foundation was established in 1969 as a First Amendment legal defense organization affiliated with the American Library Association.   FTRF is a separate corporation from the American Library Association, working in close liaison with the ALA. The secretariat is located in the Office for Intellectual Freedom, ALA Headquarters.  Membership to the Freedom to Read Foundation is separate from ALA membership. To join FTRF, renew your membership, or make a donation to support the work of FTRF, click here.

Read more about the Freedom to Read Foundation.

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        News

        FTRF announces competition for two Banned Books Week grants via Judith Krug Memorial Fund

        Aubrey Madler named winner of 2010 Gordon M. Conable Conference Scholarship

        Robert O'Neil receives 2010 FTRF Roll of Honor Award

        2010 Election results announced

        Freedom to Read Foundation Vice President Burton Joseph died on March 31, 2010.  His death deeply saddens us all.  Burt will be remembered as much for his warmth and wonderful nature as for his famed career and his unswerving dedication to the protection of our most fundamental rights.  Read about his remarkable legacy in the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, and San Francisco Chronicle.  Also: ACLU of Illinois Executive Director Colleen K. Connell Remembers Burt Joseph.  Contributions in Burt's memory may be directed to the Roger Baldwin Foundation of the ACLU of Illinois, 180 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2300, Chicago IL 60601.

        Applications now open for the 2010 Gordon M. Conable conference scholarship

        Photos from 2010 Midwinter FTRF/GLBTRT event in Boston, featuring Leslea Newman and Michael Willhoite

        Groundbreaking children's authors headline Jan. 17, 2010 FTRF/GLBTRT event in Boston

        FREE FTRF memberships to new LIS grads

        Visit the Office for Intellectual Freedom blog for news and program updates!

        FTRF 2009 Updates:

        Click here for past FTRF Updates

        Freedom to Read Foundation News back issues and subscription information

        FTRF in action

        Roll of Honor Award

        Gordon M. Conable Memorial Fund and Conference Scholarship 

        Status of Recent Cases

        Legislative Updates (Media Coalition)

        Reports to ALA Council

        40th Anniversary: On July 12, 2009, FTRF celebrated four decades of protecting the freedom to read at a GALA DINNER AND CELEBRATION at the new Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago.  Video and photo slideshow at http://www.ftrf.org/ftrfgala!  Also check out the 40th Anniversary Gala program book.

        Organization

        Roster

        Timeline

        Special Highlights

        Join the Freedom to Read Foundation |  Renew Your Membership  |  Make a Donation

        GiveDirecto logo

        To join FTRF, renew your membership, or make a donation, click on the orange "GiveDirect" button above to access FTRF's online contribution/membership form.  Note: The Freedom to Read Foundation uses a third-party vendor to process credit card transactions.  Your credit card statement will read "GIVEDIRECT," not Freedom to Read Foundation.
         
         

        Other Links

         
        LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund is devoted to the support, maintenance, medical care, and welfare of librarians who are facing employment difficulties based on their support for intellectual freedom or due to discrimination.
         
        Lawyers for Libraries is an ongoing project of the Office for Intellectual Freedom, designed to create a network of attorneys around the country involved in, or committed to becoming involved in, the defense of the First Amendment freedom to read and the application of constitutional law to library policies, principles, and problems.

           FTRF Updates 2005-2008

        Burton Joseph named 2008 FTRF Roll of Honor Award recipient

        FTRF Trustee 2008 Election Results Announced

        Audio of FTRF program with Anthony Lewis at 2008 Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia, PA at the National Constitution Center. Moderated by FTRF Trustee Chris Finan, Lewis discusses his career as a journalist covering free speech issues and talks about his book, Freedom for the Thought We Hate: A Biography of the First Amedment.

        See Theresa Chmara video on FTRF cases from 2007 ALA Annual Conference in Washington, DC. The program is entitled "Status of Recent Litigation Affecting Libraries."

        Lucille C. Thomas named 2007 FTRF Roll of Honor Award recipient

        FTRF Trustee 2007 Election Results Announced

        Enjoy the podcast from an evening with teacher, family therapist, and award-winning author Chris Crutcher at the 2007 Midwinter Meeting in Seattle, Sunday, January 21. Experience Crutcher at his very best as he recounts stories related to his popular novels! (See Chris Crutcher for FTRF.)

        Carolyn Caywood named 2006 FTRF Roll of Honor Award recipient

        FTRF Trustee 2006 Election Results Announced

        David Cohen named 2005 FTRF Roll of Honor Award recipient

        FTRF Trustee 2005 Election Results Announced

           FTRF Staff Liaisons to the Freedom to Read Foundation

        Freedom to Read Foundation
        50 East Huron Street
        Chicago, IL 60611
        Telephone: 800-545-2433, ext. 4226
        Fax: 312-280-4227
        ftrf@ala.org; http://www.ftrf.org/

        Barbara M. Jones
        Executive Director and Secretary
        Telephone: 800-545-2433, ext. 4222
        Fax: 312-280-4227
        bjones@ala.org

        Deborah Caldwell-Stone
        Deputy Director
        Telephone: 800-545-2433, ext. 4224
        Fax: 312-280-4227
        dstone@ala.org

        Jonathan Kelley
        Program Coordinator
        Telephone: 800-545-2433, ext. 4226
        Fax: 312-280-4227
        jokelley@ala.org

        Mail comments on FTRF Web site to jokelley@ala.org

        Links to non-ALA sites have been provided because these sites may have information of interest. Neither the American Library Association nor the Freedom to Read Foundation necessarily endorses the views expressed or the facts presented on these sites; and furthermore, ALA and FTRF do not endorse any commercial products that may be advertised or available on these sites.