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GSLIS Now Accepting Nominations for Downs Award

July 7, 2009

GSLIS seeks nominations for the Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom Award. The deadline for nominations is October 15, 2009.

Given annually, the award acknowledges individuals or groups who have furthered the cause of intellectual freedom, particularly as it impacts libraries and information centers and the dissemination of ideas. Granted to those who have resisted censorship or efforts to abridge the freedom of individuals to read or view materials of their choice, the award may be in recognition of a particular action or a long-term interest in and dedication to the cause of intellectual freedom.

The Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom Award was established in 1969 by the GSLIS faculty to honor Dean Emeritus Downs, a champion of intellectual freedom, on the occasion of his 25th anniversary as director of the School. Previous winners have included Brewster Kahle and the Internet Archive for their successful challenge to a national security letter (2008); Barbara M. Jones, Wesleyan University Librarian, who was honored for her international work on behalf of intellectual freedom (2007); Michele Reutty, who refused to turn over patron records without a subpoena (2006); John Doe of the court case "John Doe v. Gonzales" (2005); Whatcom County Library System (2004); June Pinnell-Stephens, Collections Services Manager for Fairbanks North Star Borough Public Library, Fairbanks, Alaska, and Mainstream Montgomery County, a Montgomery County Texas organization (2003).

Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc., Westport, Connecticut, provides an honorarium to the recipient and co-hosts the reception in honor of the recipient. The reception and award ceremony for the 2009 Downs Intellectual Freedom Award will take place in January 2010 during the American Library Association’s Midwinter Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts.

Letters of nomination and documentation about the nominee should be sent by e-mail to "Dean John Unsworth"-unsworth, at illinois.edu- with a copy to "Associate Professor Terry Weech"-weech, at illinois.edu-. Nominations will also be accepted in paper form by writing John Unsworth, Dean, GSLIS, 501 East Daniel Street, Champaign, IL 61820 by October 15. Questions should be directed to "Terry Weech"-weech, at illinois.edu-.

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