Foundations Series
ALA Neal-Schuman's Foundations series is an ongoing collection of texts designed to introduce key concepts in librarianship to library and information science students. Each volume is available in e-book format for libraries and individuals through aggregators and other distributors—ask your current vendor or contact us for more information. Examination copies are available for instructors who are interested in adopting titles for course use.
"I fully intend to re-read it soon to reinforce the ideas presented and to catch details that I missed the first time through."
— Technicalities
Cooke’s important text, suitable for both graduate and undergraduate courses as well as current practitioners, outlines and examines the components of social justice that are most compelling and relevant for the library and information professions.
"This is one of the best library and information science books that I have read in years. The authors cover a huge amount of theoretical and practical ground very successfully."
— Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association
The importance of ensuring information access to all, and the historical, social, and legal foundations of this commitment, are powerfully explored in this essential primer. Designed to function as both an introductory text for LIS students as well as a complementary resource for current professionals, this book provides a cohesive, holistic perspective on intellectual freedom. Extending beyond censorship to encompass such timely and urgent topics as hate speech and social justice, from this book readers will gain an understanding of
- the historical and legal roots of intellectual freedom, with an in-depth examination of John Stuart Mill’s “On Liberty” and Article 19 of the U.N Declaration of Human Rights, and its central concepts and principles;
- the intersection of intellectual freedom, freedom of expression, and social justice;
- professional values, codes of ethics, ALA’s Library Bill of Rights, and Freedom to Read/View Statements;
- pro- and anti- censorship arguments and their use in impeding and facilitating access to information;
- book banning and internet filtering;
- privacy and its relationship to information services;
- U.S. case law and precedents;
- the basics of U.S. copyright law, including fair use, and how it differs from international copyright law; and
- emerging global issues and their impact on future intellectual freedom.
"Useful for an introductory level ethics and information course, or an additional text in a foundations course in LIS."
— Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology
Spanning all types of libraries, from public to academic, school, and special, this matchless text illuminates the major facets of LIS for students as well as current professionals.
"Rich in reflections on the roles and duties of information professionals in ensuring democratic order of information, human rights and equality of all information users."
— Information Research
