OLA–SIRS Intellectual Freedom Award
Purpose

The Intellectual Freedom Committee of the Oklahoma Library Association, in partnership with SIRS, offers the OLA-SIRS Intellectual Freedom Award in recognition of the contribution made by an individual to actively promote or defend intellectual freedom.

General Guidelines

  1. Nominations are limited to an individual's efforts within Oklahoma.
  2. One award will be presented annually at the annual conference. The award shall consist of $500 to the award winner, $500 to the institution of the winner's choice and a commemorative plaque. The plaque and award money will be provided by SIRS.
  3. Nominees who have won the OLA-SIRS Intellectual Freedom Award during the two previous years are ineligible.
  4. Nominations will remain confidential.
  5. Nominations may be made for activities ongoing or completed in the previous ten years.
  6. Group nominations, self nominations and anonymous nominations will be accepted.
  7. Current members of the OLA Intellectual Freedom Committee are ineligible.
  8. Although every effort will be made to encourage nominations, it is possible that in some years no award will be made.
  9. This award is not limited to OLA members.
Entry Procedures
  1. Nomination forms are available from the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Library Association, the members of the Intellectual Freedom Committee and the bulk mailings.
  2. One copy of the nomination form and support materials must be returned to the Executive Director of OLA by January 14th of the award year.
  3. All nominations will be verified by a member of the Intellectual Freedom Committee.
Judges
  1. The current members of the Intellectual Freedom Committee will be responsible for selection of the winner.
  2. In the event of an impasse, the immediate past chair of the Intellectual Freedom Committee will serve as the swing vote.
Judging Procedures
  1. The Intellectual Freedom Committee will review, score and rank all entries.
  2. The entry with the highest ranking will be the winner.
  3. In the event of a tie, the past chair of the Intellectual Freedom Committee will provide a separate ranking of the tied applicants.
  4. The name of the winner will be given to SIRS eight weeks prior to the annual conference.
  5. The winner will be contacted by February 1st of the award year.
  6. The OLA President and the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Library Association will be notifed by February 1st of the award year.
Judging Criteria
  1. Developed or implemented exemplary policy/challenge procedure.
  2. Developed an innovative information program relating to intellectual freedom issues.
  3. Upheld intellectual freedom principles in the face of challenge.
  4. Actively promoted intellectual freedom principles in his/her sphere.
  5. Exemplified the spirit of intellectual freedom.

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Revised: August 18, 2000