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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) [log in to unmask] Canadian Library Association 328 Frank Street Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K2P 0X8 (613) 232-9625; Fax: (613) 563-9895 http://www.cla.ca