Intellectual Freedom Grants and Awards
Intellectual Freedom Committee

The Sam G. Whitten Intellectual Freedom Fund is a special endowment fund of the Texas Library Association, the principal of which is gradually being built from on-going contributions by concerned groups and individuals. Interest from the fund is available to support any activity which, in the opinion of the TLA Executive Board, increases intellectual freedom awareness and promotes freedom of access to information.

Examples of possible uses of the fund include:

1. Grants to support research
2. Workshops on intellectual freedom issues
3. Speakers on intellectual freedom issues
4. Publications on intellectual freedom
5. Consultation with legal counsel or other experts
6. Advisory service for specific problems
7. Funding of amicus curiae briefs on behalf of TLA in Texas cases involving significant intellectual freedom issues.

The Whitten Fund is administered by the TLA Executive Board. Applications for grants will be considered initially by a review committee composed of the chair of the TLA Intellectual Freedom Committee, the Executive Board liaison to the IFC, and one other member elected from and by the IFC. Recommendations from this group will be forwarded to the Executive Board for final approval.

The Fund commemorates Sam G. Whitten-- former associate professor in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science of The University of Texas at Austin-- who died in January, 1986. An indefatigable advocate of intellectual freedom and human rights, Sam was one of the chief authors of the Library Systems Act of 1969 and was TLA's Texas Librarian of the Year in 1973, among other accomplishments of a long career.

Contributions may be made to "Texas Library Association" with a note on the check indicating a donation to the Whitten Fund. Applications for grants may also be directed to TLA Executive Director, 3355 Bee Cave Road, Suite 401, Austin, Texas 78746-6763.

ProQuest Intellectual Freedom Award

The most recently established grant program is the ProQuest Intellectual Freedom Award, first given at the 1990 Conference. This is an annual award recognizing the contribution of an individual or group who has actively promoted intellectual freedom in Texas. Monetary gifts are donated by the Social Issues Resources Series, Inc. Recipients are selected by the Intellectual Freedom Award Committee, a subcommittee of the TLA/IFC. The award consists of:

1. A plaque commemorating the award presented to the recipient
2. $500 to the award recipient

Anyone actively promoting intellectual freedom in Texas during the past 10 years is eligible for the ProQuest Intellectual Freedom Award. Nominees for the award will be judged:

1. On the role they have played in actively promoting intellectual freedom in their sphere of influence and beyond; or
2. On the degree to which they exemplify the spirit of intellectual freedom; or
3. On the impact that their efforts to promote intellectual freedom have made.

Nominations for the ProQuest Intellectual Freedom Award may be made by anyone in Texas. Individuals and groups are encouraged to nominate themselves for the award. Nominations are to be submitted by January 1 of each year to the TLA/IFC through the TLA office. Recipients will be selected only when the award committee believes an award is justified, based on the criteria. The award will be presented at the TLA annual conference.

Intellectual Freedom Award Recipients

1990 - Pamela G. Bonnell

1991 - David R. Bates

1992 - Dr. Jocelyn Chadwick-Joshua

1993 - Kathy Ritterhouse

1994 - Laura Edwards

1995 - El Paso Public Library Board Association

1996 - Eileen Dunne

1997 - Mary Ellen Scribner

1998 - Cynthia Bennett

1999 - Judy Thomas
2000 - Linda Hughes

2002 - William M. Holda

2003 - Jerilynn Williams

2004 - Rebecca Pruett

2005 - Ann Harris

2006 - Lucy Collins Nazro

2007 - Linda (Lyn) Goodgion
2008 - Laura S. Lara

Copyright © 1998 by the Texas Library Association
Last update: 30 Jan 2009