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CHICAGO — The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) — the First Amendment legal defense organization affiliated with the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ — has unveiled its . The site — which retains the URL — is a significant upgrade for the organization and will enhance the online experience for FTRF members, donors, grant and award applicants and those who want to know more about the cases and programs in which FTRF is involved.

Among the features of the new site are the , the ability for members to update their contact information, individual profiles for those on the and a more streamlined process for those applying for the and . The site is tightly integrated with , and other communication and outreach efforts.

"The new FTRF website is a significant milestone in our efforts to increase FTRF's profile, grow our membership and develop our organizational capacity," said FTRF President Candace Morgan. "It is one of the first tangible products of our ambitious and provides a terrific platform for developing future initiatives."

"We invite our members and the general public to peruse the site, read the blog, explore the profiles of our Roll of Honor members, check out the litigation and other activities FTRF has been involved in — and then spread the word to their friends," said FTRF Executive Director Barbara Jones. "Too many librarians and other supporters of intellectual freedom are still unaware of the Foundation and its role in making sure libraries are centers of free inquiry. This new site is an exciting part of our efforts to increase that awareness and fulfill our mission."

The Freedom to Read Foundation was established in 1969 as a First Amendment legal defense organization affiliated with the ¾«¶«´«Ã½. FTRF is a separate 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation from the ¾«¶«´«Ã½, working in close liaison with the ALA. The secretariat is located in the ¾«¶«´«Ã½.