Whereas, the First Amendment’s right to freedom of expression encompasses intellectual freedom, which includes an individual’s right to receive information on a wide range of topics from a variety of viewpoints; and

Whereas, publicly funded libraries play an important role in facilitating free and open access to information; and

Whereas, in 1948, the American Library Association promulgated the Library Bill of Rights, which affirms the principle that libraries protect the First Amendment and intellectual freedom; and

Whereas, without a reasonable expectation of privacy regarding the material they check out at the library and their Internet use in a library, individuals’ intellectual freedom is compromised; and

Whereas, freedom of speech is a fundamental right guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United State of America;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Montana Library Association (MLA) supports bills that defend our First Amendment rights.

Adopted by the Montana Library Association

April 4, 2022