Judith Krug with author Judy Blume. Photo: Freedom to Read FoundationAn article by Sarah Long, Columnist for the Daily Herald out of Chicago is a fitting memorial to Judith Krug, the longtime director of the American Library Association's Freedom to Read Foundation. Krug passed away on April 11, 2009. Long explains that Krug fought censorship on behalf of libraries for more than 40 years. She moved librarianship from a quiet commitment to freedom to read to an overt, organized, policy-based movement based on that commitment.
Robert P. Doyle, executive director of the Illinois Library Association, expressed it this way:
It wasn't that Judith just generated media attention, which she did. Rather she set about the arduous task of coalition building. She reached out to publishers, booksellers, authors, school administrators, teachers, journalists and lawyers both individually and through their associations. She built coalitions based on a common belief in free expression and commitment to intellectual freedom. At ALA, she worked tirelessly with members to fight censorship efforts. Krug evolved a sort of 'case law' of precedents and policies and set up structures of support for libraries and individuals who were involved in censorship incidents.
In 1982, Krug created Banned Books Week which will be celebrated the last week in September in the US. It is sponsored by a coalition of organizations including the American Booksellers Association, American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, American Society of Journalists and Authors, Association of American Publishers, National Association of College Stores and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.
