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CHICAGO — The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) of the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ (ALA) announces that the Delaware Library Association (DLA) Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) is the 2015 recipient of the .

The award will be presented to the Delaware Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee at the in San Francisco at the IFRT Awards Reception from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. on Friday, June 26.

The Delaware Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee has been actively involved in school library challenges. Interest groups challenged the books "Brave New World" and "The Miseducation of Cameron Post" and the “Delaware Blue Hen Awards” recommended reading list. The DLA IFC built up a coalition of local, state and national groups to gain insight, advice, ideas and support. They responded quickly to support librarians, attend meetings, write emails and strategize with organizations to provide guidance. They have reached out through workshops, meetings, the DLA listserv and informational brochures to share information and coordinate efforts with librarians, library staff and educators. This led to the creation of a new DLA IF Section to share and document censorship and privacy challenges. The DLA IF is inspiring education efforts so no library staff members in public or school libraries are isolated or unsure if faced with a challenge. They are making a positive difference in intellectual freedom rights for all of Delaware libraries.

The Hodges Award recognizes an organization that has developed a strong multi-year, ongoing program or a single, one year project that exemplifies support for intellectual freedom, patron confidentiality, and anti-censorship efforts. The award is named after Gerald Hodges, an ¾«¶«´«Ã½staff member from 1989 to 2006. Chapter relations and intellectual freedom were his passions and he willed a portion of his estate to support those efforts. The award consists of $1,000 and a citation.