MCL Intellectual Freedom values

Intellectual freedom as expressed in the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights is a core value of Multnomah County Library. The Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) exists to promote this value in the delivery of library services and to educate library staff on its importance and application.

MCL Intellectual Freedom policy

Multnomah County Library upholds the principles of intellectual freedom and the public's "right to know" by providing people of all ages with access and guidance to information and collections that reflect all points of view. 

• We will provide books, programs and other library resources that present a wide range of views on current and historical issues for the interest, information and enlightenment of the community.
• We will not exclude materials because of their origin or background or the views they express, nor will we remove materials because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
• We will challenge censorship and cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting the abridgement of free expression and free access to ideas.
• We will neither deny nor abridge a person's right to use a library because of his/her age, economic levels, beliefs, race, personal or physical characteristics.
• We will make existing meeting rooms available to the public on an equitable basis.
• We will ensure regular staff training in the principles of intellectual freedom.

Contact IFC

Email lib.ifc@multco.us or share your idea for the group to discuss at an upcoming IFC meeting.

• Idea involving intellectual freedom.
• Request to consider changes to Library policies or procedures regarding uses of staff or patron intellectual freedom.

IFC role

• Design and deliver staff Intellectual Freedom Trainings with advice of the Learning + Organizational Development
• Organize and provide intellectual freedom programming events with support from Programming and Community Outreach (PCO) and collaboration with library association partners, such as ALA Banned Books week and ALA Choose Privacy week
• Provide input into public intellectual freedom training needs and services
• Provide intellectual freedom news and updates to library staff and library association partners
• Maintain awareness of current intellectual freedom issues in support of library policy and procedural directions and needs

IFC membership

All library staff are responsible for upholding the principles of intellectual freedom; therefore, the membership of the committee represents employees from throughout the organization as outlined in the table below. There are ten members plus one sponsor and one ad hoc sponsor. At least one member of the committee will be from the WSYL group.

Membership terms

• Membership on the Intellectual Freedom Committee will be for no less than two years and no more than five years except for the sponsor and ad hoc sponsor whose tenures are determined by the library director.
• Executive management team members assign administrators, managers and supervisors to serve on the IFC.
• New members among represented staff will be selected through an application process. Every two years the committee will solicit applications from among library staff. The committee will review those applications and offer spots to prospective members based on their responses.
  • Members will be selected to represent locations and classifications across the system.
  • Applications of those not selected for the committee will be kept on hand and used to fill vacancies that arise before the next application cycle.
• To maintain the knowledge base of the committee, no more than three members will be scheduled to rotate off in any given calendar year.
• To the greatest extent practicable, membership of the committee will reflect the gender and racial composition of the Multnomah County Library workforce as a whole.

IFC time commitment

The IFC is scheduled to meet for one hour at 3pm on the fourth Wednesday of every month. Committee members need to make every effort to attend scheduled meetings. The note-taker and facilitator for each meeting will rotate among the members each month. On average, committee members should expect to spend on average 3-8 hours each month on meetings and IFC-related projects. All members are expected to participate in ongoing training initiatives, Intellectual Freedom 101 and the Intellectual Freedom Refresher Training. All members are also involved in the two major events the IFC organizes each year, Choose Privacy in the spring and Banned Books Week in the fall.

Intellectual Freedom Committee Liaisons

The Intellectual Freedom Committee relies on voluntary liaisons throughout the system to carry out programming and training efforts at their individual location. IF Liaisons are expected to:

• Serve as a point of contact with the IF Committee for information related to IF programs and trainings
• Make announcements at huddles regarding programs and trainings
• Place orders for Banned Books Week and Choose Privacy Week materials for their location
• Create and collaborate on displays for Banned Books Week and Choose Privacy Week
• Report to the IFC regarding their location's recognition of displays and programs

Additionally, the liaison is welcome to promote IF throughout the year. All classifications can serve as IF liaisons with supervisor approval. Intellectual Freedom (IF) Liaisons are not members of the committee, though the position is an excellent jump off point for staff interested in serving. The time commitment is intermittent and estimated to be a few hours at most during Banned Books Week and Choose Privacy Week.

Intellectual Freedom Liaisons Google Group: lib-IF-liaisons@multco.us