We Support Your Freedom to Read
In 1953, leaders from across the literary world—librarians, professors, publishers, and business professionals—united to denounce attacks on books, libraries, and free expression. The following year, the American Library Association and Association of American Publishers authored a groundbreaking statement outlining the responsibilities of librarians and publishers in protecting Americans’ freedom to read. It begins:
“The freedom to read is essential to our democracy. It is continuously under attack.”
Since its inception, the Freedom to Read Statement has been altered and updated several times to defend the reading choices of all readers. It remains a fierce condemnation of censorship in all its forms and a relevant call to action for libraries, individuals, and groups who trust that individuals can make their own decisions about what they read and believe. The freedom to read is a cornerstone of our democracy and a central tenet of public libraries across the United States. Efforts by individuals and groups to remove or limit access to reading materials in libraries are attempts to suppress your right to read, as guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution and the First Amendment. While anyone is free to select or reject materials for themselves, the freedom of others to read, listen, or view will not be restricted. The Library does not stand in the place of parents (in loco parentis). Parents and guardians, therefore, have the responsibility to guide and direct the reading, listening and viewing choices of their own children.
The Lake Oswego Public Library is committed to defending your freedom to read. We encourage you to read the full Freedom to Read Statement, as well as the American Library Association’s Freedom to View Statement and Library Bill of Rights. The Lake Oswego Public Library Advisory Board stands firmly behind these statements against censorship. Read the library's policy on intellectual freedom here and the library's materials collection policy here.
Our librarians respect your rights and your privacy and are here to help you access the information and reading materials you desire. If you prefer a more private way to search for books, you can use the library's catalog. This allows you to search for titles, authors, subjects, or keywords and place holds on materials in the library’s countywide system without needing to talk to a librarian.
