Libraries and Academic Freedom

Academic freedom is central to the life of this university, and we are firm in our conviction that funding for our critical research and discovery must be free of ideological and political conditions and should not be granted with strings attached.  At the same time, academic freedom comes with responsibilities.  As educators, we strive to be exemplars and role models, and our freedom of expression must be exercised with care, and in that light, especially in the classroom.

– Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Chancellor

 City University of New York

These are not easy times for higher education.  Not only has the Trump administration targeted elite institutions of higher learning [notably Ivy Leagues] – but Federal grants related to science and medical research have been cancelled or funds frozen at universities throughout the country.  Even Lehman College has not been immune to these actions.

Further – the executive branch has stated its intention to shut down the Institute of Museum and Library Services [IMLS], major funder of library initiatives and library science programs.  Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, universally respected within the library community, was summarily dismissed.  2025 has proven a record year in public library book bans and challenges.  Monographs with perceived DEI content have been pulled off the shelves at West Point and U.S. Naval Academy.  For better or worse – the book I coedited with Corliss Lee and Brian Lym, Implementing Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Handbook for Academic Libraries, has the dubious distinction of being included in this purge.

While some of this activity was not necessarily unexpected – the degree, speed, and vindictiveness of its implementation has blindsided universities, libraries, and cultural organizations.  Some institutions have chosen to capitulate or accommodate requests, others stunned into silence, while some such as Harvard University have opted to resist and file litigation, only to encounter retaliatory actions on the part of the Federal government.  It is challenging to determine an appropriate, feasible, or successful course of action.

Here in Libraryland – we have sought solace and guidance by turning to the precepts of our professional organizations.  American Library Association’s Bill of Rights helpfully stipulates:

• Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas

Further – Lehman College developed a Statement on Academic Freedom – which contains the following principles:

• Lehman College endorses, promotes, and celebrates academic freedom, which guarantees and protects the rights of all members of the college community to teach, learn, speak, listen, read, write, and undertake research . . .
• Collectively, we encourage faculty and students to seek understanding, enlightenment, and the unexpurgated truth, fully expecting and welcoming that at times this will be challenging, and even appear dangerous . . .
• Whenever tradition enslaves us to falsehood and bias, the purpose of free inquiry is to liberate us from the shackles of ignorance and prejudice

Leonard Lief Library faculty are committed to our historic charge of educating students of Bronx County and beyond, instilling in them principles of information literacy, ability to navigate the information universe, successfully mastering competencies of assessing, analyzing, and applying information to coursework and life experience.

Dedicated to the components of ACRL’s Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education [https://www.ala.org/sites/default/files/acrl/content/issues/infolit/Framework_ILHE.pdf], we partner with students to reinforce intentional application of information ethically and responsibly.  Given the inordinate amount of disinformation in social media and online environment in general – this is a tall order and ongoing yet worthwhile challenge.  Moreover – our practice informs user communities how information is created, packaged, and distributed – much of it controlled by commercial entities with profit incentives.  And, then, there’s AI . . .

In response to these unprecedented external pressures and interference – our recourse has been to recommit to our mission, redouble our efforts, engaging creatively and proactively with patrons.  In this issue of Biblio-Tech – library faculty explore how we have responded to these new external challenges, contemplating emerging or renewed best practices to increase student engagement and ultimate successful pedagogy.  Lastly – how embrace of institutional academic freedom inspires us to navigate these treacherous waters, hopefully leading to the beauty of discovery and harvesting of knowledge on the opposite shore.

Kenneth Schlesinger

Associate Dean and Chief Librarian