THE NEXT WEB
Emil Protalinski | September 14, 2012

On September 6, US Judge Michael Davis ruled that the Minnewaska Area School District in Minnesota violated the First Amendment (freedom of speech) and Fourth Amendment (unreasonable search and seizure) rights of a 12-year-old student by forcing her to hand over her Facebook password to school officials who in turn used it to search for messages they deemed inappropriate. If the alleged facts are proven to be true, the school will likely have to write a settlement check, and will also be subject to claims of invasion of privacy (claims for “intentional inflection of emotional distress” were dismissed by the judge). Read on…

Related NDLA IF post

AMERICAN LIBRARIES (ALA NEWS)
Jonathan Kelley | June 5, 2012

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF), via its Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund, has announced eight $1,000 grants to libraries, schools and other organizations in support of Banned Books Week events. Banned Books Week, which will take place Sept. 30­–Oct. 6, 2012, celebrates the freedom to access information, while drawing attention to the harms of censorship. 2012 marks the 30th anniversary of Banned Books Week, the third year of FTRF’s Judith Krug Fund grants and the first year that FTRF is an official Banned Books Week sponsor organization.

Recipients of this year’s grants are the ACLU of Pennsylvania, California Polytechnic State University, City Lit Theater Company (Chicago), Friends of the Talkeetna (Alaska) Public Library, Judith’s Reading Room, Lawrence (Kan.) Public Library, St. Catharine College (Ky.) and Simon Sanchez High School (Guam).

View entire release

Banned Books Week Event Grant Application

Applications are now open.

Deadline: May 11, 2012. Grants will be announced in June.

If you would rather email your application, please complete this fillable PDF form.

Congratulations to the 2011 awardees! View a video compilation of the 2011 projects.

Rules: Please fill out the application form and attach a planned budget for your event (including what the Krug Fund money will go toward), along with a detailed planning outline, including dates.

Note: By submitting this application, applicants agree to provide the Freedom to Read Foundation with a video recording and photos of your event(s), and grants permission to let FTRF and the American Library Association reproduce/reprint video and/or photos in online and print publications. Recipients also agree to provide FTRF with a budget accounting after the fact (including copies of receipts).

ALA OIF BLOG
Jonathan Kelley | March 21, 2012

Applications are now open for the 2012 Judith Krug Fund Banned Books Week event grants, sponsored by the Freedom to Read Foundation. Grants in the amount of $2,500 and $1,000 will be given to organizations in support of “Read-Outs” or other activities that celebrate Banned Books Week (Sept. 30 – Oct. 6, 2012).

Applications for the grants will be accepted through May 11, 2012, and the announcements will be made in June.

The Freedom to Read Foundation – the First Amendment legal defense affiliate of the American Library Association – became an official sponsor of Banned Books Week this year. 2012 marks the 30th anniversary of Banned Books Week.

Seven organizations received grants in 2010, and six grants were awarded in 2011.

A video featuring the 2011 grant awardees can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk-0bDEcXgQ

Organizations are required to submit an event description, timeline and budget with their application, and also agree to provide a written report and video to FTRF following Banned Books Week. For more information on Banned Books Week, visit www.ala.org/bbooks. A compendium of thousands of books that have been banned and challenged can be found in the 2010 Banned Books Resource Guide, available through the ALA Store. You also can purchase Banned Books Week posters, buttons, bookmarks, t-shirts, bracelets, and tote bags there.

Contact Jonathan Kelley at jokelley@ala.org with questions.