Library professor defends Library Bill of Rights

Dr. Joyce Latham, a professor in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Information Studies, was one of roughly 60 people who spoke at the June 2, 2009 West Bend library board meeting. The board was considering the West Bend Parents for Safe Libraries petition to restrict access to certain Young Adult materials. Dr. Latham argued against the petition. At the end of the three-hour meeting the board voted unanimously to reject the petition and keep the YA books in their current location.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• West Bend
• ALA
• libraries
• censorship
• WLA
• intellectual freedom
• book bannings
• YA books
• library board meetings
• Wisconsin
• UWM

[Lizardqueen11]

This video gave me chills.... Once she said that the Library Bill of Rights was published in 1939, the idea of fighting for libraries and becoming a librarian is so much more meaningful. "We should never lose sight that the reason why librarians became such advocates of intellectual freedom is to prevent that from happening in this country." I am now energized to work as hard as I can to protect those rights.

[Tinplz]

This woman is incredibly interesting- I haven't seen her in months, but I'm very grateful for the time I did spend with her.

Unrestricted Access to information should be, if it isn't, an inalienable right.

[kevlonk]

As a Library Studies student, I applaud this woman. Say no to book burning! Say no to suppression of information!

[Hdtexan]

Bravo! Speak out against the facists.

[FlyingMonkey1223]

Good for her! No to censorship. Police your OWN children. Don't try to police other people's children, or make the library police children/books from what YOU may view as "inappropriate" but I may view as perfectly acceptable.