Intellectual freedom is a First Amendment right, one that libraries have long been vigorous in protecting. The American Library Association has prepared three strong statements of support for intellectual freedom, which we present on this page for your information. The board of trustees of the Lake Oswego Public Library has affirmed all these statements.
Librarians receive many requests to remove objectionable material. All these requests are voiced by sincere people who have concerns that a certain work is inappropriate, inaccurate, immoral, or in bad taste.
There is no agreement among patrons about what is objectionable. Throughout the history of libraries, almost every classic work of literature has been objected to at one time or another. The library is not a controlled information source, and cannot act as a safeguard to present only sanitized or safe ideas and works of art. The library purposely seeks to challenge users with the widest range of human thought and experience. Only in this way can truly free people make informed choices about their own lives and morals, and thus forge their very being. The library's mission is to support that development, and thus help grow a truly free and wise people.
American Library Association: Library Bill of Rights
American Library Association: Freedom to Read Statement
American Library Association: Freedom to View Statement
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