Washington, DC -- September 16, 2024. The American Library Association (ALA) is convening a third Intellectual Freedom Summit in its nearly 150-year history, bringing together national organizations, publishing allies, educational institutions, foundations, authors and other champions of intellectual freedom. The event, which will be held at the Library of Congress on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, aims to forge strong partnerships and shape strategy to battle against the rising tides of censorship.

"When we gather at the world's largest library, we will identify strategies to respond to the withdrawal and censorship of information," said Cindy Hohl, president of the American Library Association. "We will join forces to lift ourselves and ultimately our country above the fray of polarization and politicization of access to information."

The last ALA Intellectual Freedom Summit, held in 1953, produced the seminal Freedom to Read Statement, a vital document published in response to the censorship pressures of the McCarthy era. That statement, developed in collaboration with the American Book Publishers Council, remains a foundational text for the protection of intellectual freedom in America.

This year's summit will build on that legacy, inviting a broad and diverse coalition of voices to collaborate on a new playbook that addresses emerging censorship challenges. New and traditional allies will work together to ensure that all Americans, regardless of political perspective or belief, can continue to be a free people who read freely for the next 150 years.

ALA recognizes the importance of including voices from across the spectrum of beliefs, political ideologies, and experiences to inform this critical work. For more information on summit attendees and speakers, visit freepeoplereadfreely.org.

The ALA's mission is "to provide leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all."

About the American Library Association

The American Library Association (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice for 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.