Academic Freedom
In 1948, the American Library Association established the Library Bill of Rights. Just a few months later the United Nations published the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Doctrine. Article 19 of the doctrine serves as a broad definition for Intellectual Freedom, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers” (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Website, 2008).
Staunch supporters of this basic human right, the American Library Association in its Issues and Advocacy section of their website write:
ALA actively advocates in defense of the rights of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment. A publicly supported library provides free and equal access to information for all people of that community. We enjoy this basic right in our democratic society. It is a core value of the library profession.
While access to information has always been the highly guarded Intellectual Freedom topic by libraries, another interesting Intellectual Freedom sub-topic of potential importance to librarians is that of Academic Freedom
One simple definition of academic freedom comes from Professors Richard Danner and Barbara Bintliff (2006), “Academic freedom can be defined as the atmosphere of free inquiry and discussion necessary to find and teach “truth” as the faculty member sees it” (pp14-15). According to the 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure put out by the American Association of University Professors:
Institutions of higher education are conducted for the common good and not to further the interest of either the individual teacher or the institution as a whole. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.
Simply put, academic freedom is the doctrine that allows professors to research and teach without fear of retaliation, even if the subject matter may be considered controversial or unpopular. According to the 1940 Statement tenure is the appropriate tool to protect academic freedom.
As stated by Danner and Bintliff (2006)
Tenure is a condition of employment, granted by the university to an individual faculty member, that is used both to protect and promote academic freedom and to provide enough economic security to make university teaching attractive as a profession. A tenured faculty member is given an indefinite term of appointment in return for meeting certain qualifying criteria and specified continuing performance requirements. The dismissal of a tenured professor requires cause and significant due process, with the involvement of multiple layers of peer review and university administration.
It is important to note that academic freedom is not an inherent right, but rather a privilege granted by the individual university, with accompanying limitations and responsibilities. For example professors need to be careful of not teaching controversial material not related to their designated subject. According to the 1940 Statement, a university may place clearly defined limitations on academic freedom based on “religious or other aims of the institution” (American Association of University Professors Website, 2008).
References
American Association of University Professors Website (2008)
Retrieved October 15, 2008 from
http://www.aaup.org/AAUP/pubsres/policydocs/contents/1940statement.htm
American Library Association Website (2008)
Retrieved October 15, 2008 from
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/intellectualfreedom/index.cfm
Danner, Richard A. and Bintliff, Barbara (2006) Academic Freedom Issues for Academic Librarians. Legal Reference Services Quarterly, 25 (4). pp. 13-35.
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Website (2008)
Retrieved October 15, 2008 from
http://www.unhchr.ch/udhr/lang/eng.htm
Questions for Discussion: (Respond to any ONE)
Should academic libraries require their librarian positions to be tenure-track or “tenure-like”, requiring intensive evaluation of performance similar to those of the same University’s professors?
Is a librarian’s ability to support the teaching mission of the university and the research required for professors hindered without the protections of tenure?
Does librarianship as a “profession” suffer by not requiring tenure or tenure-like requirements for academic librarians?
What foreseeable issues could arise if the same academic freedom protections are not afforded academic librarians?
