Judith Fingeret Krug, longtime director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom and the founder of Banned Books Week, died Saturday after a long illness.’ Advisor, author and public servant, she was a remarkable leader in the struggle to educate the public concerning the right to the free expression of ideas. Judy was an inspiration to all who knew her.
She was the Executive Director of the Freedom to Read Foundation and Director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association for over forty years. She worked tirelessly to guarantee the rights of individuals to express ideas and read the ideas of others without governmental interference.’ Through her unwavering support of writers, teachers, librarians, and above all, students, she has advised countless numbers of librarians and trustees in dealing with challenges to library material.’ She has been involved in multiple First Amendment cases that have gone all the way to the United States Supreme Court.’ In addition, she was the founder of Banned Books Week, an annual week-long event that celebrates the freedom to choose and the freedom to express one’s opinion.
Services will be held at Beth Emet Synagogue, 1224 Dempster St., Evanston IL, Tuesday April 14th at 10:00a.m. followed by internment at Shalom Memorial Park.’ In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Freedom to Read Foundation, 50 East Huron, Chicago Illinois 60611, or www.ftrf.org.
Her full obituary is online at the Chicago Tribune; information can also be found at American Libraries blog, AL Inside Scoop.
Judy was wonderful. She’ll be sorely missed and we’ll all have work to do to pick up where she’s left off.