ALA and AAUP Release Statements Supporting Dale Askey and McMaster University in Mellen Press Lawsuit

We will also add links to the following statements to our roundup of materials about the Mellen Press v. Dale Askey/McMaster U. cases. You’ll find it here.
From Maureen Sullivan, ALA President:

“As president of the American Library Association, I share the deep concern expressed by the Association of College and Research Libraries, the Association of Research Libraries and the Canadian Library Association among many others in deploring the actions of the Edwin Mellen Press in filing a libel suit against Dale Askey, currently a librarian at McMaster University, for expressions of his professional opinion in a blog hosted first by the Kansas State University and now by McMaster University.
“This action strikes at a core responsibility of all librarians as information professionals to provide considered, critical advice to the reading public regardless of the type of library in which they are employed.
“In addition, it has the potential to significantly poison the good relationships enjoyed by the library and publishing communities. I call upon the Press to reconsider its actions and drop this assault on intellectual and academic freedom.”

Read the Complete Statement
From the American Association of University Presses

Academic freedom includes the freedom to criticize, and Edwin Mellen Press should not be using the courts to silence and intimidate its critics. We join ACUP/APUC in asking the Press to withdraw its suit. Whatever slight damage Mr. Askey’s blog may have caused to the Press’s reputation is being magnified many times over by Edwin Mellen’s pursuit of this frivolous and vindictive course of action.

Read the Complete Statement
 

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