Intellectual Freedom

Regina Public Library supports intellectual freedom and endorses the Canadian Federation of Library Association (CFLA)’s Statement on Intellectual Freedom and Libraries. This is of such significant importance that it is included in RPL’s Values statement.

Updated February 13, 2026
S
Saskatchewan Information & Library Services Consortium Regina Public Library
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Free speech : a history from Socrates to social media
—Mchangama, Jacob, 1978- author.
Paper Book
"The best history of free speech ever written and the best defense of free speech ever made." --P.J. O'Rourke Hailed as the "first freedom," free speech is the bedrock of democracy. But it is a challenging principle, subject to erosion in times of upheaval. Today, in...
How democracies die
—Levitsky, Steven
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * "Comprehensive, enlightening, and terrifyingly timely."--The New York Times Book Review (Editors' Choice) WINNER OF THE GOLDSMITH BOOK PRIZE * SHORTLISTED FOR THE LIONEL GELBER PRIZE * NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS...
Dangerous ideas : a brief history of censorship in the West, from the ancients to fake news
—Berkowitz, Eric
Paper Book
A fascinating examination of how restricting speech has continuously shaped our culture, and how censorship is used as a tool to prop up authorities and maintain class and gender disparities Through compelling narrative, historian Eric Berkowitz reveals how drastically censorship...
The first : how to think about hate speech, campus speech, religious speech, fake news, post-truth, and Donald Trump
—Fish, Stanley Eugene
Paper Book
"Fish's points arrive in thoughtful, dense provocations." --Kirkus Reviews From celebrated public intellectual and New York Times bestselling author, Stanley Fish, comes an urgent and sharply observed look at one of the most hotly debated issues of our time: freedom of...
Banned books : the world's most controversial books, past and present.
DK.
Paper Book
Immerse yourself in the stories behind the most shocking and infamous books ever published! Censorship of one form or another has existed almost as long as the written word, while definitions of what is deemed "acceptable" in published works have shifted over the centuries, and...
You can't say that! : writers for young people talk about censorship, free expression, and the stories they have to tell
Burton, LeVar
Paper Book
What happens when freedom of expression comes under threat? In frank and wide-ranging interviews, historian and critic Leonard S. Marcus probes the experience of thirteen leading authors of books for young people. A powerful photo essay on transgender teens is called anti...
https://saskatchewan.overdrive.com/saskatchewan-regina/bestbooks/collection/1524784
Freedom to Read Week was founded in 1984 to defend against censorship and create a broader awareness of ongoing challenges to creative works. It is a call to action for all Canadians to consider and defend their right to publish, read and write freely. To find out more go to: freedomtoread.ca
https://www.freedomtoread.ca/

For 40 years, the Book and Periodical Council (BPC) was the driving force behind Freedom to Read Week. The BPC brings together a diverse range of organizations that support the written-word sector in Canada. It provides members with opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and capacity building that will strengthen their individual and collective impact on the industry.

https://cfe.torontomu.ca/

The Centre for Free Expression, launched in 2015, is a non-partisan platform focused on freedom of expression – the human right to hold opinions and to seek, receive, and share information and ideas. It works in collaboration with academic and civil society organizations across Canada and internationally and is based in the Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University). Through public education and engagement, commentaries, legal analysis, research, and advocacy, the CFE attempts to deepen the understanding of freedom of expression rights and the relationship of freedom of expression to individual development, advancement of knowledge, democracy, and social justice.

https://cfe.torontomu.ca/databases/canadian-library-challenges-database
The CFE-CFLA/FCAB Canadian Library Challenges Database provides access to challenges libraries have faced to items in their collection, and to displays, programs, room usage, and computer access.
https://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10

Every year, the American Library Association\'s (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom compiles a list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books in order to inform the public about censorship in libraries and schools.

https://cfla-fcab.ca/en/guidelines-and-position-papers/statement-on-intellectual-freedom-and-libraries/
The Canadian Federation of Library Associations recognizes and values the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as the guarantor of the fundamental freedoms in Canada of conscience and religion; of thought, belief, opinion, and expression; of peaceful assembly; and of association. The Canadian Federation of Library Associations supports and promotes the universal principles of intellectual
https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/censorship/faq
Intellectual freedom is the right of every individual to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction. It provides for free access to all expressions of ideas through which any and all sides of a question, cause or movement may be explored.

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