PURPOSE
The NCTE Intellectual Freedom Awards honor individuals, groups, or institutions that merit recognition for advancing the cause of intellectual freedom. Award categories are (1) a national award and (2) an NCTE affiliate-based award. 
Each state, regional, and provincial affiliate is urged to establish and implement an Intellectual Freedom Award. The awardees will be cited in the NCTE Intellectual Freedom Award Roster and at the Affiliate Breakfast at the NCTE Annual Convention. 

Read more here.

MCELA's 2023 Intellectual Freedom Award 
​Maine Association of School Libraries

MASL Board members have shown courage in advancing the cause of intellectual freedom and fighting censorship with their advocacy work on the following:

• 2023–Creating a collective statement against LD 123 (currently in development)
• 2023–Authoring the Freedom to Read Position Statement sponsored by MASL and MCELA
• Early 2022–Developing the Intellectual Freedom Matters Infographic sponsored by 12 state organizations Educate Maine, Maine Curriculum Leaders Association, Maine School Superintendent Association, Maine School Boards Association, National Board Certified Teachers of Maine,  Maine Association of Middle Level Education, Maine Council for English Language Arts, Maine Education Association, Maine Principals' Association, Maine County and State Teachers of the Year Association,  Maine Association of School Libraries and the Maine Department of Education