Librarians as Advocates

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Dobija (2007) has clearly researched problems with First Amendment Rights. The government in its attempt to stop the leakage of news from its offices and the legislators’ attempt to thwart the internet has impeded an open access society from truly exercising its First Amendment Rights. Their policies have troubled librarians, upset educators, and frustrated researchers.

Congress passed the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) in 2000 to protect children, but it has been more of a hindrance than an aid as far as many educators are concerned. According to Dobija (2000, p. 2), an informal survey of high school librarians shows that in some cases students are being denied access to materials and technology needed for their homework. These librarians also feel that when CIPA filters block social networks students' mastery of technologies required in this online era slows down.

Many can understand the censoring of sites for children, but the violation of adults’ rights has had consequences. In fact, in a case the American Civil Liberties Union filed against the North Central Regional Library District in Washington, plaintiffs allege that librarians refused to unblock public computers when adult patrons asked them to do so even though CIPA requires that such requests be honored. (As quoted by Dobija, p. 3)

The Freedom to Read Foundation has supported court challenges made against censorship, but

the cases have not been completely resolved. For instance, in Connecticut, four librarians won a confrontation with the government that forbade them to discuss an FBI demand for library records. The Child Online Protection Act (COPA) also had its day in court. Senior U.S. District Judge Lowell Reed Jr. ruled that law calling fo...

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... will help their community.

Many librarians are not born with a skill to be an advocate. Fortunately, there are many professional organizations that provide resources and support for them to acquire and hone their

skills.

Works Cited

Dobija, J. (2007). The First Amendment Needs New Clothes. American Libraries, 38(8), 50-53.

http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/

Estabrook, Leigh (2002). Coping, View 2: Response Disappointing. American Libraries, 33(8), 37

http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/

Hill, Rebecca. (2010). The Problem of Self-Censorship. School Library Monthly, 27(2), 9-12.

http://www.schoollibrarymonthly.com/

Martin, A. (2007). The Evolution of the Librarian as Advocate. Knowledge Quest, 36(1), 16-19.

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/aaslpubsandjournals/knowledgequest/knowledgequest.cfm

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