CFLA Releases Intellectual Freedom Statement on Labeling

May 9, 2024

The Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA) this week released a statement endorsing the American Library Association’s (ALA) 2015 statement Labeling Systems: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights:

The CFLA/FCAB agrees with the ALA’s important distinction between viewpoint-neutral discovery aids that, for example, facilitate access to materials for children, youth and adults according to broadly-defined reading levels, versus labels based on content or value judgements that act as a means of predisposing individual attitudes toward library resources.

CFLA Intellectual Freedom Statement on Labeling

The Canadian Federation of Library Associations / Fédération canadienne des associations de bibliothèques (CFLA/FCAB) endorses the American Library Association’s (ALA) statement Labeling Systems: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights, adopted on June 30, 2015. The CFLA/FCAB agrees with the ALA’s important distinction between viewpoint-neutral discovery aids that, for example, facilitate access to materials for children, youth and adults according to broadly-defined reading levels, versus labels based on content or value judgements that act as a means of predisposing individual attitudes toward library resources. Labeling materials by or about marginalized groups can have the unintended effect of narrowing the potential audience for these items or inadvertently exposing readers to stigma. Discovery aids such as themed displays, booklists and readers’ advisory services are preferred methods of connecting patrons with materials. The CFLA/FCAB champions intellectual freedom and the right to access all forms of expression, including the rights of individuals to form their own opinions about resources they choose to read, view, or listen to.

(Via Canadian Federation of Library Associations)