[Libs-Or] Invitation to participate: Discussion on Intellectual Freedom and Current Events

[Emily O'Neal]

Hi fellow OLA members,
The Oregon Intellectual Freedom Committee would like to welcome you all to an engagement opportunity on the topic of Intellectual Freedom: Current Events and Their Impacts on Intellectual Freedom (a three part series).

These meetings are intended to be facilitated discussions around recent current events including political extremes, cancel culture, privatized vs. public entities and how each of these have an impact on Intellectual Freedom, First Amendment Rights, and access to information for all.

Examples of the types of discussion we hope to have include:

- What it means when a private institution decides to not allow certain content.  Examples include private bookstores and their choice of materials for sale and social media platforms and whom they give voice to.
- What are the lines and limits to First Amendment Rights?
- What is hate speech and what does that mean for libraries?
- How libraries can protect both Intellectual Freedom while also upholding Anti-racism and EDI doctrines within their institutions?

The intention of our meeting/brainstorming session is to give voice to these topics and to create a safe space to discuss these challenges openly with others.  Our hope is to offer the opportunity to connect with colleagues and cohorts across the State and to learn from one another's experiences.  Please plan to bring your own ideas, to engage and to participate in these discussions.  This is a true open call for interaction with others, and is not intended to be an information session but rather a discussion to share our perspectives and learn from each other's experiences.

The meeting dates and times are:
Location: Zoom
Date: Wednesday, February 3rd
Time: 12:00 - 1:00

Location: Zoom
Date: Wednesday, March 3rd
Time: 12:00 - 1:00

Location: Zoom
Date: Wednesday, April 7th
Time: 12:00 - 1:00

To sign up to join these discussions, please use the following link/form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf4C7k__7t5U3X7x4U0et05WeUFtOusDFvbnRHZ4Hkehmczzw/viewform?usp=sf_link

OIFC will have some facilitated discussion questions to help prompt discussions but please also bring your ideas, thoughts, and intentions to participate.

Thank you all for your thought and dedication to this discussion!
Best,
Oregon Intellectual Freedom Committee


Emily O'Neal, M.L.S.
Technical Services Manager
Deschutes Public Library
(541) 617-7061
emilyo at deschuteslibrary.org<mailto:emilyo at deschuteslibrary.org>
http://www.deschuteslibrary.org<http://www.deschuteslibrary.org/>
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