A librarian and outspoken advocate of the freedom of speech, Judith Krug (A&S ’62) actively criticized censorship. Born in Pittsburgh, Krug earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pittsburgh in 1962. She later received her Master of Arts from the University of Chicago.
Krug began her career in library sciences after she graduated from Pitt, working in libraries in Chicago while she earned her Master’s. In 1965 she became a research analyst for the American Library Association and in 1967 she became the director of the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. While working as the director, Krug published a newsletter that would point out censorship in the country and identify ways to deal with the infringement of freedom of speech.
In 1969 the Freedom to Read Foundation emerged as a sister organization to the Office for Intellectual Freedom; Krug became the first leader there. The foundation aimed to defend freedom of speech. Krug opposed the idea that libraries should censor any materials available to patrons and in 1982, as director of the OIF, she collaborated on the creation of Banned Books Week.
She was outspoken against the Patriot Act of 2001 and in 2003 challenged the constitutionality of the Children’s Internet Protection Act. Through her advocacy the Act was passed with the stipulation that internet filtering software on public library computers could be turned off by an adult guardian. She believed in access to education rather than censoring the information children may find on their own.
She brought this passion to many councils, including as a chair of the board of directors for the Center for Democracy and Technology, as a board member for the Fund for Free Expression, the American Civil Liberties Union, and others.
After Krug’s passing in 2009 the ALA founded the Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund to ensure that Banned Books Week could continue to operate and advocate for freedom of speech.