For more than 25 years, SIRS has been dedicated to the concept of
intellectual freedom and excellence in education. To further this concept, we
established SIRS Intellectual Freedom awards.
1999
Sharon A. Saulmon
Head Librarian, Rose State College
Oklahoma City, OK
SIRS Publishing Sales
Representative Sharon Lee Roth (left) and Oklahoma Library Association President
Deborah Engel (right) with 1999 OLA/SIRS Intellectual Freedom Award winner
Sharon Saulmon.
"It is a great honor for me to have been nominated and the
recipient of this award. The importance of intellectual freedom in a democracy
cannot be overstated. The library is THE democratic institution that equalizes
access
to information for all."
1998
Cal Hobson
Senator of Oklahoma
1997
Lee B. Brawner
Executive Director, Metropolitan Libary System
Oklahoma City, OK
"The right to access legally-protected
materials in public libraries is under assault by nationally-based,
politically-sophisticated, financially-sound, 'local grass roots' groups in
communities across the country; their stated objectuve is to 'control and change
local public libraries and library boards.' This is a wake-up call for local
libraries and their supporters to get involved and to speak out against this
movement to curtail our First Amendment Rights."
