For Immediate Release

Peter Carver, Nancy Fleming and Sarah Thring Recipients of the Award
for the Advancement of Intellectual Freedom in Canada for 2002

Ottawa, Ontario, June 3, 2002 -- The Canadian Library Association's
Advisory Committee on Intellectual Freedom announces the selection of
Peter Carver, Nancy Fleming, and Sarah Thring as joint recipients of the
CLA Award for the Advancement of Intellectual Freedom in Canada in 2002.
 The Award, given when merited, recognizes and honours outstanding
contributions to intellectual freedom in Canada, by individual
librarians or by libraries and institutions.  It will be presented at
the CLA annual conference in Halifax, in a ceremony to be held on the
morning of Thursday, June 20.

Through their longstanding work on the Freedom to Read Kit, sponsored
by the Book and Periodical Council, Mr.Carver, Ms. Fleming and Ms.
Thring have demonstrated outstanding leadership in, and outstanding
contribution to, the promotion of intellectual freedom in Canada.

The Freedom to Read Kit 2002 is an essential reference tool for the
Canadian library community as well as a key lens through which to
examine the state of censorship at a time when threats to freedom of
expression are prevalent.  Moreover, The Freedom to Read Kit series
(1985-) documents a history of censorship in Canada and comprises an
important part of our cultural heritage.  At its core, the Kit stands as
a testament to intellectual freedom, an essential component of
democratic society.

Peter Carver (Materials Coordinator for the Freedom of Expression
Committee of the Book and Periodical Council) researches and writes the
Kit. He has served on the Freedom of Expression Committee since 1979,
and has been responsible for the Kit since the first annual Freedom to
Read Week in 1985.

Nancy Fleming, in the capacity of Executive Director of the Book and
Periodical Council, acted as editor of the Kit and general overseer of
the Freedom to Read project. In addition she was responsible for
financial coordination, and the production and distribution of the Kit.
Following her retirement in 1999, she  generously continued to work on
the Kit  in an informal editorial advisory role up to this year.

Sarah Thring is responsible for Publicity and Coordination for Freedom
to Read Week.  Over the years she has been instrumental in providing
back-up research and promotion of the Kit.  Sarah has been attached to
the project since 1987.  She came to this bringing with her a long
career as a publicist in the Canadian publishing industry, and a strong
commitment to intellectual freedom issues.

The Kit is aimed at booksellers, librarians, students, educators, and
the community at large. It includes a poster, background resources,
recommended classroom activities, and a bibliography.  The Kit is
intended to "aid all readers in their discussions, studies, and
responses to the ways the freedom to read is being challenged today."
For more information about the Freedom to Read Kit, see
http://www.freedomtoread.ca/kits/index.htm.

CLA is the national English language association representing the
interests of all types of libraries and library workers. It was founded
in 1946 and is made up of 2800 members across five constituent
divisions: Canadian Association of College and University Libraries,
Canadian Association of Public Libraries, Canadian, Association of
Special Libraries and Information Services, Canadian Library Trustees
Association, and Canadian School Library Association. A complete
conference program, along with comprehensive information about the
Canadian Library Association and its programs and services, is available
on the CLA web site: http://www.cla.ca.

Media Contact:

Peter Wilson
Communications Coordinator (ext. 320)
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