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
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
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 * The urgent and influential guide to the forces that have undermined democracies across the globe--forces running rampant in the United States today--hailed as "a touchstone" (The New Yorker) that "comes at exactly the right moment" (The Washington Post...
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
From celebrated public intellectual, New York Times bestselling author, and "America's most famous professor" (BookPage) comes an urgent and sharply observed look at freedom of speech and the First Amendment offering a "nonpartisan take on what it does and doesn't protect and...
Hate : why we should resist it with free speech, not censorship
—Strossen, Nadine
Paper Book
The updated paperback edition of HATE dispels misunderstandings plaguing our perennial debates about "hate speech vs. free speech," showing that the First Amendment approach promotes free speech and democracy, equality, and societal harmony. As "hate speech" has no generally accepted definition, we...
Burning the books : a history of the deliberate destruction of knowledge
—Ovenden, Richard
Paper Book
Wolfson History Prize Finalist A New Statesman Book of the Year A Sunday Times Book of the Year "If you care about books, and if you believe we must all stand up to the destruction of knowledge and cultural heritage, this is a brilliant read--both...
Truth in our times : inside the fight to save press freedom in the age of alternative facts
—McCraw, David E., 1954- author
Paper Book
David E. McCraw recounts his experiences as the top newsroom lawyer for the New York Times during the most turbulent era for journalism in generations. Now in paperback! In October 2016, when Donald Trump's lawyer demanded that The New York Times retract...
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.

Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.