The Intellectual Freedom Fund
As a registered charity, OLA received “The Intellectual Freedom Fund” upon dissolution of the
Canadian Library Association. The criteria for disbursement of this fund to eligible recipients
was reviewed in consultation with the Canadian Federation of Library Associations.
This fund provides financial assistance to libraries and library organizations facing challenges
related to intellectual freedom. Grants of up to $10,000 are available.
Requests exceeding this amount may be considered in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the review committee.
Criteria/Eligibility
The fund is available to:
• Canadian libraries serving populations of fewer than 30,000 people
• Canadian libraries that would experience significant financial hardship in responding to
an intellectual freedom challenge; and
• Canadian library associations.
The fund will provide supports to libraries that may require funds in the following types of situations:
• Challenges that threaten equitable public access to library services, including the freedom to read, view, listen, create, and participate.
• Efforts to resist censorship, including demands to remove, restrict, or limit access to library collections, programs, displays, or other information resources.
• Responses to allegations that library materials, programs, displays, or speech may be unlawful, including obtaining legal advice or opinions to assess such claims.
• Legal expenses, including consultations, opinions, representation, and defence costs.
• Costs associated with intellectual freedom policies and procedures, communications support, public relations, or other operational requirements arising from an intellectual freedom challenge.
Applications are accepted from eligible libraries and library organizations across Canada.
Statement of Principles
The National Intellectual Freedom Defense Fund is aligned with the Ontario Library Association Statement on Intellectual Freedom and the Intellectual Rights of the Individual. The introduction of the statement includes the following: ‘The Ontario Library Association and its divisions are committed to the fundamental rights of intellectual freedom, the freedom to read and freedom of the press, as embodied in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Ontario Libraries have the important responsibility to facilitate expressions of knowledge, creativity, ideas, and opinion, even when viewed as unconventional or unpopular.’
Application Procedure
The application form can be completed at: Intellectual Freedom Fund
- Individual and organization name and contact
- Senior Leadership Contact/Signing Authority
- Population served
- Description of the specific situation that this fund is being used to support. This description should include how intellectual freedom is being challenged.
- Demonstrated need for funding
- Amount of funding requested
- Timeline for funding request
- Agreement to share an outcomes summary or report.
Selection Procedure
- Eligible proposals are received on an ongoing basis.
- The decision to approve applications and to disburse funds will take up to three weeks.
Some exceptions may apply, and the process may take longer. - The OLA Executive Director will convene a selection committee of three to five
individuals, including:
• one to two representative appointed by the CFLA-FCAB Board; and
• representatives from the OLA Fund Development Committee. - The committee will meet, review and assess the application according to the established
rubric for this fund. - The Executive Director or designate will:
• notify applicants of funding decisions;
• request a final report from successful applicants;
• provide a summary to the OLA Fund Development Committee, OLA Board and
CFLA Board; and
• collect any legal opinions or related documentation submitted by recipients.
Award Procedure
• Upon approval, the funding proposal will be awarded to the applicant.
• Recipients must submit a final report outlining how the funds were used and the
outcome of the intellectual freedom challenge.
History of this fund
The following motion was approved at the June 2016 OLA Board Meeting:
Motion to receive restricted charitable funds from CLA due to the dissolution and to be disbursed in accordance with CRA rules and regulations.
OLA received The Intellectual Freedom fund upon dissolution of the Canadian Library Association. The criteria for disbursement to eligible recipients was reviewed in consultation with the Canadian Federation of Library Associations.
Details of this fund were further revised for clarity and approved on June 14, 2023, by the OLA Fund Development Committee and the OLA Board.
Updated September 2026