Judith Krug

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Judith Fingeret Krug (March 15, 1940 – April 11, 2009) was an American librarian and anti-censorship activist. She was appointed as the Director of the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom in 1967 and Executive Director of the Freedom to Read Foundation in 1969. She cofounded Banned Books Week in 1982. [1]

Judith Krug held positions in various Chicago libraries-including Reference Librarian at the John Crerar Library and Head Cataloger at the Northwestern University Dental School Library. Before assuming her duties in the Office for Intellectual Freedom, Krug was the research analyst for the American Library Association. In addition, she sat on the 2006 panel of judges for the PEN/Newman's Own Award, which recognizes those who exceptionally defend the First Amendment's right to freedom of expression in writing.

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[edit] Biography

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Krug earned her B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied political theory. In 1964, she earned her M.A. at the Graduate Library School of the University of Chicago.

In addition to her professional responsibilities, Krug was Vice-President of the Phi Beta Kappa Society[2], chair of the Board of Directors of the Center for Democracy and Technology, chair of The Media Coalition, vice-chair of the Internet Education Foundation, and a member of the Advisory Board of GetNetWise. She previously served on the Board of Directors of the Fund for Free Expression, the Board of Directors of the Illinois Division of the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Bar Association's Commission on Public Understanding About the Law, and the Advisory Council of the Illinois State Justice Commission.

[edit] Public policy positions

Krug strongly opposed the notion that libraries ought to censor the material that they provide to patrons. She has said:

"We know that there are children out there whose parents do not take the kind of interest in their upbringing and in their existence that we would wish, but I don't think censorship is ever the solution to any problem, be it societal or be it the kind of information or ideas that you have access to."[citation needed] She had particularly opposed the use of filters and other technical measures to restrict Internet sites that can be accessed from library computers. "Blocking material leads to censorship. That goes for pornography and bestiality, too. If you don't like it, don't look at it ... [E]very time I hear someone say, I want to protect the children, I want to pull my hair out."[3]

She had supported laws and policies protecting the confidentiality of library use records. When a Florida librarian reported to the police, shortly after the 11 September 2001 attacks, that one of the attackers had been using the Delray Beach public library (although Florida law guarantees confidentiality to library patrons), Krug was one of the few people to criticize the action, saying "I would have felt better if she had followed the Florida law. I suspect most people faced with the same situation would have done what she did."[4]

[edit] Critical responses

Groups that favor restricting access to pornography and other content they deem inappropriate have strongly criticised Krug's stands on these issues. For example, in The Internet and the Seduction of the American Public Library Helen Chaffee Biehle criticized Krug and the ALA for their positions that librarians should not act as the representatives of parents and society by restricting access to content, particularly for children.[5]

[edit] Awards and honors

[edit] Death

Krug died on April 11, 2009 in Evanston, Illinois, aged 69, from stomach cancer.[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Douglas Martin, Judith Krug, Who Fought Ban on Books, Dies at 69, New York Times, 15 April 2009.
  2. ^ Phi Beta Kappa Society
  3. ^ LaRue, Janet M., "A tale of Twin Cities: Preventing kids from seeing illegal smut is not unconstitutional; it's common sense", Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service, 19 May 2000 (republished Charleston Gazette, 4 June 2000, p. P-1C)
  4. ^ Rosenbaum, David E., "A Nation Challenged: Questions of Confidentiality; Competing Principles Leave Some Professionals Debating Responsibility to Government", The New York Times, 23 November 2001, p. B7
  5. ^ Freedom to Read Foundation "The Internet And the Seduction of the American Public Library"
  6. ^ Judith Krug, founder of Banned Books Week, dies

[edit] External links

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