Abstract

 Libraries are reservoirs of diverse recorded knowledge. They have evolved into agencies that grant users unfettered access to information and knowledge services. In doing this, libraries avail their clients the opportunity to seek and use information without unnecessary encumbrances. To this end, this paper examines the place of libraries as facilitators of intellectual freedom. Relevant inferences are drawnfrom the roles ofthe American LibraryAssociation (ALA) policy, and the International Federation of Library Association frameworks. To further support the position of this paper, some court cases were reviewed which had to do intellectual freedom. Some of the challenges that undermine the effectiveness ofthe library as a facilitator ofintellectualfreedom were identified, including inadequate funding, institutional dependency, poorinfrastructure and censorship. Thefollowing recommendations are proffered to overcome these challenges: adequate funding of library operations, infrastructural upgrade, and discouragement of censorious activities.

Keywords: Libraries, Intellectual Freedom, Information Dissemination, Censorship.