Judith Krug Quotes

Judith Fingeret Krug was an American librarian, freedom of speech proponent, and critic of censorship. Krug became director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom at the American Library Association in 1967. In 1969, she joined the Freedom to Read Foundation as its executive director. Krug co-founded Banned Books Week in 1982.

She coordinated the effort against the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which was the first attempt by the United States Congress to introduce a form of censorship of speech on the Internet. Krug strongly opposed the notion that libraries should censor the material that they provide to patrons. She supported laws and policies protecting the confidentiality of library use records. When the United States Department of Justice used the authority of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 to conduct searches of what once were confidential library databases, Krug raised a public outcry against this activity by the government.

In 2003, she was the leader of the initiative to challenge the constitutionality of the Children's Internet Protection Act. Her efforts led to a partial victory for anti-censorship campaigners; the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the law was constitutional, but that filtering software on computers in public libraries could be turned off if so requested by an adult guardian. Krug warned that the filters used to censor Internet pornography from children were not perfect and risked blocking educational information about social matters, sexuality, and healthcare.



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✵ 15. March 1940 – 11. April 2009
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Judith Krug: 17   quotes 0   likes

Famous Judith Krug Quotes

“We know for a fact that the library is the main access point to the Internet outside of the home and workplace. Particularly for young people, information about AIDS, sexuality, suicide could mean the difference between life and death. This law keeps us from giving people access to the information they need.”

"ACLU, ALA File Law Suit Against Child Internet Protection Act - American Civil Liberties Union, American Library Association Declare Law Unconstitutional - Brief Article" Electronic Education Report (March 28, 2001)

“A librarian is not a legal process. There is not librarian in the country — unless she or he is a lawyer — who is in the position to determine what he or she is looking at is indeed child pornography.”

" Libraries vs. Police in a Suit Sparked by Porn; Kent Case Centers on People's Rights and Protections http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/82432_library13.shtml" by Jeffrey M. Barker, Seattle Post-Intelligencer (August 13, 2002)

“Toni Morrison is challenged regularly because she is a black author who writes about the real world. She speaks with so much knowledge about black issues she can't be accused of creating these (issues). People find these issues threatening.”

Referring to people seeking to prevent children in public schools from reading books allegedly containing sexually inappropriate material.
" Group Targets Black Authors' Books; Toni Morrison's Novel Deemed 'Smut' by Parent; Acclaimed Memoir 'Black Boy' Also is Under Fire http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070124/METRO04/701240390/1037/ENT05" by Valerie Olander, The Detroit News (January 24, 2007)

“It's a public library. If you don't like the book, magazine, CD-ROM or film, put it down and pick up something else. Libraries provide choice. Our responsibility is to have in our collection a broad range of ideas and information.”

" Oak Lawn Library Vows to Keep Playboy on Shelf http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-06-23/news/0506230234_1_library-board-president-library-officials-magazine" by Jo Napolitano, Chicago Tribune (June 23, 2005)

“We want to provide as much information as we can, and say to our users: "It is all here. You make the choice."”

"A Library That Would Rather Block Than Offend" by Pamela Mendels, The New York Times (January 18, 1997)

Judith Krug Quotes about people

“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.”

Referring to Kathleen Hensman, a Delray Beach, Florida public librarian informing police about 9/11 suspects having used computers in the library where she works
"A Nation Challenged: Questions of Confidentiality; Competing Principles Leave Some Professionals Debating Responsibility to Government" http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00E13F83E5E0C708EDDA80994D9404482 by David E. Rosenbaum, The New York Times (November 23, 2001)

“I have a real problem when people say, "Well I walked by and you should have seen what was on the computer screen." Well, don't look, sweetie. It's none of your business. Avert your eyes.”

"A Library That Would Rather Block Than Offend," by Pamela Mendels, The New York Times (January 18, 1997)

“I get very concerned when we start hearing people who want to convert this country into a safe place for children. I am adult. I want available what I need to see.”

"Oak Lawn Library Vows to Keep Playboy on Shelf" by Jo Napolitano, Chicago Tribune, (June 23, 2005)

Judith Krug Quotes

“I have heard some horror stories.”

Referring to an incident in which an adult asked a librarian for a filter to be turned off and was told that the request had to go to a committee that would not meet for another two weeks
" Goodbye, Orlando? http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA443907.html" by John Berry et al., Library Journal (August 15, 2004)

“Many libraries are digging in their heels and saying, "We are not going to add filtering mechanisms."”

"A Library That Would Rather Block Than Offend" by Pamela Mendels, The New York Times (January 18, 1997)

“You should have access to ideas and information regardless of your age. If anyone is going to limit or guide a young person, it should be the parent or guardian — and only the parent or guardian.”

"A Library That Would Rather Block Than Offend" http://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/week/011897library-florida.html by Pamela Mendels, The New York Times (January 18, 1997)

“Blocking material leads to censorship. That goes for pornography and bestiality, too. If you don't like it, don't look at it… Every time I hear someone say, I want to protect the children, I want to pull my hair out.”

"Preventing Kids From Seeing Illegal Smut Is Not Unconstitutional; It's Common Sense" http://www.ncpa.org/bothside/krt/krt051700a.html by Janet M. LaRue, Senior Director of Legal Studies at the Family Research Council, National Policy Center: Idea House (2001)

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