Freedom to Read Foundation Celebrates 40 Years and the Life of Judith Krug

Some 525 librarians and library supporters—a virtual who's who of librarianship—spent yesterday evening in the new wing of the Art Institute of Chicago, entralled by its splendor and by the speakers who gathered to help the Freedom to Read Foundation celebrate its 40th anniversary and pay tribute to its founder, Judith Krug, who died April 11. FTRF President Judith Platt and Gretchen Helfich, former host of Chicago Public Radio's Odyssey show, honored Krug in their welcoming remarks, crediting her for being the singular force behind both the foundation and the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom.  Platt said the job of the foundation was "to send the book burners back to their dark little holes with their tails between their legs." Helfrich summarized the mission as "changing the way you see things," in much the same way as the Art Institute's new space. The Foundation's Civic Achievement Award was presented to the McCormick Freedom Museum, followed by the presentation of the William J. Brennan Award to Krug by Robert M. O'Neil of the Thomas Jefferson Center for Free Expression. Michelle Litchman, Krug's daugher, accepted the award on beholf of her mother.  O'Neil noted that Judith Krug was able to mobile a broad coalition that "profoundly influenced the course of constitutional law."  "The unlicensed practice of law is what she really did," he joked, to thuderous applause. Author Judy Blume presented the Founder's Award to Krug, saying that she has planned to present it to her in person. Sometimes tearfully, Blume rememered her friend and colleague and the many censorship battles they fought together. She spoke of "my friend, my hero," and said, "Your legacy will continue, I promise, but damn we are gonna miss you." Deeply moved by the praise being lavished on his late wife, an emotional Herb Krug paid tribute with a donation of $10,000 to the foundation. Keynote speaker author Scott Turow called Judith Krug "an inspiring and spirited leader and talked about his debt to libraries and said he owed much to the hours he spent in the Glencoe Public Library in Illinois. He noted that, along with censorship, the decline in reading itself is also a huge threat to the freedom to read. He concluded that "the fate of our culture has always passed through the hands of libraries." Foundation treasurer James Neal closed with a witty and moving mix of stories, funny and sad, saying that Krug was not only a librarian but a legal genius and an extraordinary administrator, teacher, author, scholar, public advocate, spokesperson, and politician. It was an emotional and celebratory evening, in an inspiring room filled with admirers, family, friends, and colleagues, who, like me, found Judith Krug to be equal parts fun and fury, friend to many, and foe to injustice on an international scale.