Category: Intellectual Freedom

Libraries in the News: Globe & Mail – U.S.-style book bans could happen in Canada too

Censorship is not going to be contained in the United States by an imaginary line on a map. How could Canada not be affected? Infected? https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-us-style-book-bans-and-censorship-could-happen-in-canada-too-if-were/

Libraries in the News: CBC Ideas – with Richard Ovenden

CBC Ideas program with Richard Ovenden interviewed by Nahlah Ayed from Freedom to Read Week, taped at the Toronto Reference Library. Ovenden talks about the history of booking banning and what it means for democracy today, making many historical links: “The current wave of book banning in libraries, and the broader context of censorship and […]

Libraries in the News: The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge

With issues surrounding what you are allowed to read in some American schools, some Canadians may be surprised there are similar issues in Canada.  An important discussion on “A Freedom to Read” week with the CEO of the Halifax Public Libraries, Åsa Kachan.  https://www.radio-canada-online.com/podcasts/the-bridge-with-peter-mansbridge – Do You Have The Freedom To Read?  Mon, 30 Jan 2023 Listen on […]

CFLA-FCAB Intellectual Freedom Challenges Survey

The CFLA-FCAB Intellectual Freedom Challenges Survey is available for the recording of incidents in Canadian libraries that challenge intellectual freedom. The results for 2021 have been added to the CFLA-FCAB website with reports from previous years. The Intellectual Freedom Committee working group encourages reporting of incidents on a continuous, rather than batch, basis. A note […]

The Centre for Free Expression (CFE) invites participation in the Library Challenges Database

The Centre for Free Expression (CFE) invites your library to participate in the Library Challenges Database. With the advice and guidance of the CFE Working Group on Intellectual Freedom, we have created the Library Challenges Database to assist libraries in responding to challenges and to enable important research on intellectual freedom in Canada. The database […]

PLLeaders Launches 5th Cohort

Launched our 5th cohort of the 18 month Public Library Leaders (PLLeaders) program with a rebuilt curriculum largely delivered virtually, with 38 participants from across Canada, with an introductory panel discussion with the CULC/CBUC Executive. New this year is an instructional unit on Intellectual Freedom and the role of Public Libraries led by James L […]

Mark Williams, Milton PL, Joins CFE Working Group on Intellectual Freedom

Milton Public Library Chief Librarian and CEO Mark Williams is joining the Centre for Free Expression’s Working Group on Intellectual Freedom. “We are delighted to welcome such a dedicated champion of intellectual freedom to the CFE Working Group,” said James L. Turk, the Centre’s Director. Mark began his career in Coventry, England, working with disaffected […]

CULC/CBUC Endorses Statement of Concern from CFE about Zoom & YouTube Shutting Down University Panel Discussion

CULC/CBUC endorses the statement released on September 28, by the Centre for Free Expression calling on Zoom, YouTube, and all other online technology providers to cease being censors of discussions being held by universities, schools, and libraries. CFE urges “online technology providers to acknowledge civil liberties and human rights; to leave decisions about what content […]