Alki Up Front The Washington Library Association Journal C o n t e n t s The WLA President speaks 4016 First Avenue N.E. Seattle, WA 98105-6502 FEATURES Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.wla.org/ CAROL GILL SCHUYLER Alki Editorial Committee 5 WLA’s National IF Award Winner Candace Morgan Current Challenges Nicole Campbell Tami Echavarria Robinson, Whitworth College Cheryl Farabee to Intellectual Freedom Emily Hull 8 Bards, Rebels, and the Blue Moon Tami Echavarria Robinson Walt Crowley, HistoryLink Michael and I have just returned from Greece During the teleconference someone commented on how the Brian Soneda Bonnie Taylor 10 The Perils of Clicking ‘I Agree’: UCITA and Intellectual Freedom and Turkey. In our wanderings, we visited the ancient government loves acronyms (as do libraries). Here are the ones Mary Wise Jonathan Franklin, University of Washington libraries of Hadrian in Athens, Celsus in Ephesus, most impacting intellectual freedom. CIPA forces libraries to choose Jen Wolfe, Intern and Pergamum (where they began using parchment between reimbursement of communication funds and filtering of Carla McLean, Chair 13 Government Documents: We Do Not Want What We Haven’t Got Cameron Johnson, Alki Editor instead of papyrus and shared their volumes with Internet access. Washington libraries currently address Internet Mary MacKintosh, Link Editor Cass Hartnett, University of Washington Alexandria when its library burned). Libraries, in one access in many ways—parental choice for minor children, complete Troy Christenson, Judy Solomon, Seattle Public Library form or another, have existed for thousands of years open access, and choice between open and filtered access. These WLA Coordinator of 16 An Interview with Sanford Berman and are integrally interwoven with history. We also alternatives reflect community values, not government mandates. Communications Cameron A. Johnson, Everett Public Library sat in the same seats in which the creators of demo- UCITA threatens our ability to purchase and distribute certain forms Alki (ISSN: 8756-4173) is published three times per Laura C. McCarty, Friends of the Mukilteo Library cratic society sat as they discussed the importance of of information. The USA PATRIOT Act impacts libraries in two year in March, July, and equality, individual freedoms, and the commitment of ways. It allows the government to determine what information—in December, and mailed to 19 Free Speech in a City of Smokestacks: Everett’s Ordinance 1501 every citizen to maintain those societal rights. To do both electronic and print formats— may be considered “sensitive” over 1,300 WLA members David Dilgard, Everett Public Library anything else was not considered an option. and thus unavailable to the public. It also allows for search and and interested parties. Print subscriptions are available 24 When the Cops Appear: Two Libraries, Two Outcomes seizure of library records, including circulation and Internet use at $20 per year, or $7.50 per Carla McLean, King County Library System This Alki issue focuses on intellectual freedom, records. At the state level, “harmful to minors” bills raise their heads single issue. Contact the WLA Emily Hull, University of Washington a principle that all libraries should defend. As we live nearly every legislative session. As an association, we have placed Office at the address above. and work in an environment that makes preserving a high priority on stopping these bills in committee. We want to Alki’s purpose is to 28 When Intellectual Freedom and Social Responsibility Collide intellectual freedom more difficult, this duty becomes preserve for children equal access to all information. communicate philosophical Jonathan Betz-Zall, City University more important. and substantive analyses of The other intellectual freedom arena we must attend to is current and enduring issues 29 What If Libraries Really Had the “Ideal Filter”? I attended the USA PATRIOT Act teleconference the resistance to censorship. Daily we face formal and informal for and about Washington Kenneth Einar Himma, University of Washington in December. One presenter was former Washington libraries, personnel, and censorship: challenges to materials, decisions to avoid potentially advocates, and to facilitate State Assistant Librarian Gary Strong, now the direc- controversial items, and citizens who appoint themselves “weed- the exchange of research, tor of Queensborough Public Library in New York. ers” of “inappropriate” items. It takes time and energy to defend opinion, and information. He talked about striking a balance between inform- a collection’s diversity and the rights of its users—whether public, Direct submission queries to: ing library customers of the potential governmental academic, special or corporate—to open information. Cameron A. Johnson invasion of their intellectual freedom and confiden- Everett Public Library tiality within the library— the “chilling effect”—and Philosophy and politics are often uncomfortable companions. I 2702 Hoyt Avenue Everett, WA 98201 maintaining a hospitable and welcoming environment am proud to work in a state where so many people so strongly pro- 425-257-7640 where they can feel safe. No longer can we take our tect intellectual freedom. I remember the heated debate (which set Email: [email protected] library rights for granted, as we have in the past. off the hotel fire alarm!) on revising our intellectual freedom state- Cover by Joan Blacker and ment three years ago. Such debate occurs only where people believe Kevin Duncan In my “day job” I teach all our employees a policy passionately and are willing to take a stand. Our profession has class, which includes a discussion of the Library Bill traditionally been typed as “mild,” but in defense of intellectual free- of Rights. Reviewing its sections provides a clarity and dom our “Clark Kent” becomes “Superman.” Though telephone definition that reminds us of the challenges that we booths are increasingly hard to find in a forest of cell phones, we face in providing excellent customer service. Each must always be willing to don our red capes. Supporting intellectual section deals with a component of intellectual free- freedom keeps libraries and those who use them strong. dom and the right of every individual to unrestricted access to information. The bar to defend this unfet- I want to take this opportunity to thank Catherine Lord and tered access is constantly being placed higher. Martha Parsons for producing the Intellectual Freedom Resources page on the WLA website. It is a very valuable addition to your intel- lectual freedom toolkit. Visit it if you haven’t already. This is my last Alki message to you as your president. Thank you Carol Gill Schuyler is President of WLA and Head of for the past two years. I am very proud to have served in this role. Regional Services and Children’s Services at Kitsap Regional Library. Email: [email protected] ALKI March 2003 2. 3. ALKI Volume 19, Number 1 Alki Up Front The Washington Library Association Journal C o n t e n t s The WLA President speaks 4016 First Avenue N.E. Seattle, WA 98105-6502 FEATURES Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.wla.org/ CAROL GILL SCHUYLER Alki Editorial Committee 5 WLA’s National IF Award Winner Candace Morgan Current Challenges Nicole Campbell Tami Echavarria Robinson, Whitworth College Cheryl Farabee to Intellectual Freedom Emily Hull 8 Bards, Rebels, and the Blue Moon Tami Echavarria Robinson Walt Crowley, HistoryLink Michael and I have just returned from Greece During the teleconference someone commented on how the Brian Soneda Bonnie Taylor 10 The Perils of Clicking ‘I Agree’: UCITA and Intellectual Freedom and Turkey. In our wanderings, we visited the ancient government loves acronyms (as do libraries). Here are the ones Mary Wise Jonathan Franklin, University of Washington libraries of Hadrian in Athens, Celsus in Ephesus, most impacting intellectual freedom. CIPA forces libraries to choose Jen Wolfe, Intern and Pergamum (where they began using parchment between reimbursement of communication funds and filtering of Carla McLean, Chair 13 Government Documents: We Do Not Want What We Haven’t Got Cameron Johnson, Alki Editor instead of papyrus and shared their volumes with Internet access. Washington libraries currently address Internet Mary MacKintosh, Link Editor Cass Hartnett, University of Washington Alexandria when its library burned). Libraries, in one access in many ways—parental choice for minor children, complete Troy Christenson, Judy Solomon, Seattle Public Library form or another, have existed for thousands of years open access, and choice between open and filtered access. These WLA Coordinator of 16 An Interview with Sanford Berman and are integrally interwoven with history. We also alternatives reflect community values, not government mandates. Communications Cameron A. Johnson, Everett Public Library sat in the same seats in which the creators of demo- UCITA threatens our ability to purchase and distribute certain forms Alki (ISSN: 8756-4173) is published three times per Laura C. McCarty, Friends of the Mukilteo Library cratic society sat as they discussed the importance of of information. The USA PATRIOT Act impacts libraries in two year in March, July, and equality, individual freedoms, and the commitment of ways. It allows the government to determine what information—in December, and mailed to 19 Free Speech in a City of Smokestacks: Everett’s Ordinance 1501 every citizen to maintain those societal rights. To do both electronic and print formats— may be considered “sensitive” over 1,300 WLA members David Dilgard, Everett Public Library anything else was not considered an option. and thus unavailable to the public. It also allows for search and and interested parties. Print subscriptions are available 24 When the Cops Appear: Two Libraries, Two Outcomes seizure of library records, including circulation and Internet use at $20 per year, or $7.50 per Carla McLean, King County Library System This Alki issue focuses on intellectual freedom, records. At the state level, “harmful to minors” bills raise their heads single issue.