For Immediate Release
Two City Councilors and Members of the Board of Trustees of the London
Public Library receive Award for the Advancement of Intellectual Freedom
in Canada
(Ottawa, May 2, 2008) - The Canadian Library Association/
Association canadienne des bibliothèques (CLA/ACB) is honoured to
announce Nancy Branscombe and Gina Barber as the 2008 recipients of the
Award for the Advancement of Intellectual Freedom in Canada.
Branscombe and Barber are London City Councillors and members of the
Board of Trustees of the London Public Library who have shown courageous
leadership and advocacy in defending the principles of intellectual
freedom during the contested issue of the extension of filtering of
internet terminals throughout the London Public Library in 2007,
including the adult areas as well as the wireless environment.
The initial impetus for the London Public Library filtering plan did
not come from an outside group or from a group of employees, but from
library management, on the grounds that extending filtering was
necessary to protect against inadvertent exposure to inappropriate
images. Although alternatives to filtering were suggested, such as
reconfigured furniture arrangements, better use of privacy screens, and
enforcement of existing rules of conduct, and intellectual freedom
considerations were stressed, many influential community members and
organizations supported filtering, and the issue remained contested at a
series of London Public Library Board meetings. Rather than yield to the
strong pro-filtering sentiment, Trustee Branscombe put forward a motion
at the September 2007 Board meeting to rescind the filtering action.
Trustee Barber seconded the motion. After a long debate, the Board voted
6-2 to continue with the pilot filter project. At this meeting, both
Branscombe and Barber made impassioned statements on the importance of
intellectual freedom and explained how there were less intrusive
alternatives. In November 2007, the matter returned to the Board and a
final motion to adopt the filtering as a permanent policy passed by a
vote of 5-4. By this time, the Board had received representations from
the Canadian Library Association, the Faculty of Information and Media
Studies at the University of Western Ontario, and others opposed to
filtering.
As a matter of political expediency, it would have been easier for
dissenting Trustees to support the filtering project, or simply let it
go by with mild opposition. The intensity and passion with which the
award winners spoke out on this issue in defense of a library core value
was done at risk to their political fortunes. While Branscombe and
Barber were unable to convince a majority of their Board colleagues of
the importance of maintaining the highest standards of intellectual
freedom at the London Public Library, their insistence in having the
matter aired at the Board brought the issue out into full public view.
The CLA commends their courageous example, which serves as a positive
influence in London, as well as other Canadian communities grappling
with this complex issue.
Nancy Branscombe was first elected to London City Council in November
2006. She represents Ward 6, the area immediately surrounding the
University of Western Ontario, and she previously served as City
Councilor in the City of Peterborough.
Gina Barber was elected to City Council in 2006, running citywide for
the Board of Control. She previously was an Instructor at
Fanshawe College, teaching courses in Sociology and Criminology.
The Award for the Advancement of Intellectual Freedom in
Canada recognizes and honours outstanding contributions to
intellectual freedom in Canada by individuals or groups. Preference is
given to librarians and library institutions. However like-minded
individuals such as teachers or authors or groups such as schools or
publishers are also eligible. The award is given from time-to-time, not
necessarily on an annual basis, and there may be more than one recipient
in any one year. To access the list of previous winners please go to the
awards section of the CLA/ACB website at: www.cla.ca.
The Canadian Library Association/Association canadienne des
bibliothèques is Canada’s largest national and broad-based
library association, representing the interests of public, academic,
school and special libraries, professional librarians and library
workers, and all those concerned about enhancing the quality of life of
Canadians through information and literacy.
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Media Contact: Toni Samek, Convenor,
Advisory Committee on Intellectual Freedom
Associate Professor, School of Library & Information Studies,
University of Alberta
Tel.: (780) 492-0179; Email: toni.samek@ualberta.ca
