ALA Announces 2025 Recipients of Celebrated Library Intellectual Freedom Awards（图）

CHICAGO–The Intellectual Freedom Round Table(IFRT)of the American Library Association(ALA)is pleased to announce the Illinois Library Association as the recipient of the 2025 Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award;Nate Coulter as the recipient of the 2025 John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award;and Shannon M.Oltmann as the recipient of the 2025 Eli M.Oboler Memorial Award.

The Illinois Library Association(ILA)is awarded the 2025 Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award by the IFRT Coalition Building Committee.The committee was impressed by ILA's coalition building,its partnership with Unite Against Book Bans,and the chapter’s sustained anti-censorship efforts.Among this year's accomplishments,ILA implemented Regional Rapid Response Teams,a concept they borrowed from New Jersey library organizations.One ILA Regional Rapid Response team worked with a high school junior who started a Change.org petition,and the impact of their work is evidenced by tangible outcomes such the reinstatement of the Milburn K-8 School District's Illinois Young Readers'Choice Award Program.ILA has a sustained record of opposing censorship that includes helping Illinois become the first state in the nation to adopt a freedom to read law.

The award is named after Gerald Hodges and consists of$1,000 and a citation.Hodges joined the ALA staff in 1989 as director of membership services and the Chapter Relations Office.At the time of his death in 2006,Hodges was the associate director of communications and marketing.Intellectual freedom and chapter relations were his passions.

Members of the Coalition Building Committee are chair Matt Sylvain,University of Massachusetts Dartmouth;Leanne Cheek,Pioneer Library System;Elizabeth Doherty,Framingham Public Library;Cynthia Dudenhoffer,University of Missouri;Kati Perez,Pierce County Library;Ma’lis Wendt,retired.

The 2025 John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award,which honors notable contributions to intellectual freedom and demonstrations of personal courage in defense of freedom of expression,is awarded to Nate Coulter,Executive Director of the Central Arkansas Library System.The award selection committee was impressed by Coulter’s courageous leadership,legal expertise,and strategic vision in challenging Arkansas Act 372 and defending the right to read freely.His ability to build a strong coalition,stand firm under political pressure,and uphold the core values of intellectual freedom exemplify the very best of library leadership.

The annual award consists of a citation and$500 and is named for John Phillip Immroth,a teacher,author,scholar,advocate,defender of First Amendment rights,and the founder and first chair of the Intellectual Freedom Round Table in 1973.

Members of the John Phillip Immroth Committee are chair Eldon Ray James,retired;Michael Blackwell,St.Mary’s County Library;Matthew Good,Ursinus College;Kristin Pekoll,Illinois Library Association;Samuel Charles Rumore,Birmingham Public Library;and Amanda Sand.

Shannon M.Oltmann,Ph.D.,a Program Coordinator and University Research Professor at the University of Kentucky School of Information Science,and an associate editor at Library Quarterly,is the recipient of the 2025 Eli M.Oboler Memorial Award for The Fight Against Book Bans:Perspectives from the Field.Through a wide array of stories reflecting the struggle and battle against book bans,Oltmann’s work collecting,writing,and editing the courageous stories showed the committee her commitment and passion for intellectual freedom.

The Eli M.Oboler Award consists of$500 and a citation and is presented annually to a significant published work in the area of intellectual freedom,including matters of ethical,political,or social concerns related to intellectual freedom.The award is named for Eli M.Oboler,the extensively published Idaho State University librarian who championed intellectual freedom and demanded the dismantling of all barriers to freedom of expression.

Members of the Eli M.Oboler Memorial Award Committee are chair Marisa Eytalis,Las Vegas-Clark County Library District;Johanna Gennet,Hennepin County Library;Annah Hackett,University of Texas at Austin;Cynthia M.Dudenhoffer,University of Missouri SISLT;Amanda Sand,Library Leverage;Leila Little.

The awards will be presented alongside the Freedom to Read Foundation’s(FTRF)Roll of Honor Award and the University of Illinois School of Information Sciences’Robert B.Downs Intellectual Freedom Award at the ALA Annual Conference in Philadelphia on Friday,June 27,2025.Registered ALA Annual Conference attendees are welcome to attend the program,which begins at 7:30 p.m.in Salon E at the Philadelphia Marriott.Donations supporting the Merritt Fund will be collected during the reception,which will feature a keynote speaker,light appetizers,and a cash bar.The event is organized by IFRT,FTRF,and the University of Illinois School of Information Sciences.Premiere sponsors for the event include OverDrive and Penguin Random House.Additional sponsorship is provided by Macmillan.

About the Intellectual Freedom Round Table

The Intellectual Freedom Round Table provides a forum for the discussion of activities,programs,and problems in intellectual freedom of libraries and librarians;serves as a channel of communication on intellectual freedom matters;promotes a greater opportunity for involvement among the members of the ALA in defense of intellectual freedom;and promotes a greater feeling of responsibility in the implementation of ALA policies on intellectual freedom.

About the American Library Association

The American Library Association(ALA)is the only non-partisan,nonprofit organization dedicated entirely to America's libraries and library professionals.For almost 150 years,ALA has provided resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services.The ALA serves academic,public,school,government,and special libraries,advocating for the profession and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all.For more information,visit www.ala.org.