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IFLA/FAIFE

Not Guilty: Final Verdict on Italian Librarian Accused of Lending an Obscene Book to a Minor

Press release
20 June 2005

IFLA/FAIFE are extremely pleased to announce that the Italian librarian recently accused of lending an obscene book to a minor, has been acquitted on appeal of all charges (see the IFLA/FAIFE Press Release - Censorship in Italy - a librarian on trial on the 17th of June 2005.

In his judgment on the 17th June, the judge deemed the accusation levelled at the librarian to be false. The book in question was a legally published work recommended for teenagers by the Italian Ministry of Work and Welfare as part of anti-drug campaign. The judge found that the book itself was not obscene and consequently it will again be included on the shelves of the "Sorbelli" public library in Fanano. In a month, the full verdict will be filed and published. Furthermore, the Italian Parliament may consider to pass legislation that protects librarians.

The FAIFE Office has been closely involved with the librarian's legal team and the Italian Library Association during the appeal process, and we are happy that we have been able to contribute towards the successful verdict.

IFLA/FAIFE would like to thank everyone who responded with interest to announcements on FAIFE-L and IFLANET regarding the trial, and are pleased that the Italian authorities saw the value of upholding the rights of intellectual freedom and freedom of access to information. This case has proved the importance of cooperation and solidarity inside and outside the local community, and also inside and outside the international library community. Many people have helped the defence and more than 5,000 signatures in support of the librarian have been collected.

The trial result is a victory for all librarians who seek to promote the right to know and the right to provide uninhibited access to information - without any restrictions and opposing any form of censorship.

Further information

Paul Sturges, Chair of IFLA/FAIFE, Department of Information Science, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, UK, LE 11 3TU.
Tel: +44 (0) 1509 22 8069, Fax: +44 (0) 1509 22 3053
Email: R.P.Sturges@lboro.ac.uk

Susanne Seidelin, Director, IFLA FAIFE Office, Copenhagen, Denmark. Tel: +45 32 34 15 32. Fax: +45 32 84 02 01
Email: susanne.seidelin@ifla.org or sus@db.dk