Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is proud to announce that we will be among those honored this year for the Intellectual Freedom Award at the 126th Annual New York Library Conference and Trade Show in Saratoga Springs this November 15th. Each year New York Library Association (NYLA) recognizes those who honor, support, and advocate for libraries. The award CBLDF will accept is specifically in recognition of those who further the cause of intellectual freedom. NYLA’s website mentions, “The CBLDF provides legal referrals, representation, advice, assistance, and education to cases affecting the First Amendment right to read, create, publish, sell, and distribute comics and graphic novels.”
Other awards include The Senator Hugh Farley Outstanding Advocate Award, The Outstanding Service to Libraries Award, and The Mary Bobinski Innovative Public Library Director Award. Each award recognizes a different but critical contribution to New York State library and information services. The Senator Hugh Farley Award will be given to Assemblymember Patricia Fahy for her fierce advocacy of libraries and consistent votes to continue the important funding of libraries. The Outstanding Service to Libraries Award will go to the founders of Urban Librarians Unite, for their continued development of programming and resources for the library patrons of New York, including programs aimed at refugee children, storytimes for children displaced during Hurrican Sandy, and more. Also being honored at this year’s festivities is a library director in the Saratoga area, Caitlin Johnson, for her innovative programming changes that have lead to a massive increase in patron involvement.
Past winners of the Intellectual Freedom Award include National Coalition Against Censorship, Anna Quindlen, Merrick Public Library and many more. Stay tuned on CBLDF.org for more information about the award and this year’s ceremony.