RIP Judith F. Krug: Read a Banned Book in her memory...

Judith Krug passed away April 11th, 2009. A librarian and a powerful voice for library's "right to choose", she was the Director of the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom since it was founded in 1967. She also started Banned Books Week in 1982, promoting the right to read, write and shelve stories and books without the interference of various censors.

"She was a force of nature, fiercely determined to make sure that censorship wouldn't triumph in the library or the larger world," said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, deputy director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom."

True to her convictions, she was a strong opponent of content blocking on library internet connections ("Blocking material leads to censorship. ... [E]very time I hear someone say, I want to protect the children, I want to pull my hair out.").

She also created quite a stir (particularly by librarian standards) when, shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, she criticized the Delray Beach Florida librarian who reported to the police the library use of one of the attackers...contrary to a Florida law that guarantees confidentiality to library patrons. Said Krug, "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."

She was a great standard bearer and I regret I never got to meet her. I hope whoever picks up her reins will have the same vim and vigor.