Annual SIRS Award Nominations Sought

The Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) of the Maine Library Association/Maine Educational Media Association seeks nominations for the Maine Intellectual Freedom Award. This is an annual award recognizing the contribution of a group or individual who has actively promoted intellectual freedom in Maine. It is donated by SIRS, Inc., to a recipient selected by the IFC. The award consists of:

• $500 to the award recipient
• $500 for material to the library of the recipient's choice
• A plaque to the recipient commemorating the award

The award will be presented at the annual Maine Libraries conference in October. It will only be given in a year when an appropriate individual or organization is nominated.

Any individual or organization who is actively promoting intellectual freedom in Maine is eligible for the MLA/MEMA ~ SIRS Intellectual Freedom Award. Current IFC members will not be considered for this award.

 

Intellectual freedom is defined by the American Library Association (ALA) and the Association for Education Communications and Technology (AECT) as the freedom to express one's beliefs or ideas through any mode of communication, and the right of unrestricted access to all information and ideas regardless of the medium of communication.

 

The Library Bill of Rights (ALA) and the AECT Intellectual Freedom Statement offer expanded explanations of practices which are supported by these professional associations to promote intellectual freedom. These documents will be considered very carefully as decisions are made concerning the MLA/MEMA ~ SIRS Intellectual Freedom Award.

 

Nominees for the award will be judged on the role they have played in actively promoting intellectual freedom through their efforts to protect First Amendment rights, challenge censorship, or otherwise resist abridgement of free expression and free access to ideas.

 

Although the committee will accept even a small paragraph as a nomination, supporting documentation is encouraged. Examples of helpful supporting documentation include:

• Newspaper articles or editorials
• Text of speeches or testimony
• Brochures of workshop or conference sessions
• Letters of recommendation
• Relevant policies or procedures

Anyone in Maine may make a nomination regardless of their profession or affiliation.

 

Direct any questions regarding the award or other committee activities to one of the IFC Co-Chairs at the following addresses:

MLA: Wendy Miller, co-chair
Charles M. Baily Public Library
39 Bowdoin Street
Winthrop, ME 04364
Tel: 377-8673/Fax: 377-8673

MASL: Kelley McDaniel, co-chair
King Middle School, Portland

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Past Recipients

Year	Recipient	Designated Library
1988	Stephen King	Old Town Public Library
1989	David Ingmundson	Morse High School Library
1991	Richard Dyer	Maine State Library/Alden Wilson
1992	Tom Adams	Massabesic High School Library Clay Conley/Tallie Taylor
1994	Nancy E. Crowell	South Portland Public Library
1997	Molly Sinclair	Mt. Abrams High School Library "Educators in Intellectual Freedom"
1998	Biddle Press	Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick
1999	Deborah M. Locke	Westbrook High School Library
2000	Laura Johns	Brooksville Elementary School
2001	Bill Davis	Criminal Justice Committee, Maine Council of Churches
2004	Anne Davis	Gardiner Public Library MLA Legislative Chair
2005