Finding Aid for Eldon Ray James Oral History, September 2023 | The American Library Association Archives

By Cara Bertram

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Collection Overview

Title: Eldon Ray James Oral History, September 2023

ID: 97/1/87

Primary Creator: James, Eldon Ray

Extent: 500.0 megabytes

Arrangement: By recording date

Date Acquired: 09/12/2023. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Freedom to Read Foundation, Incarceration, Intellectual Freedom, Intellectual Freedom Committee, Intellectual Freedom Round Table, International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), Librarians, Library Bill of Rights, Library services to prisons, Neal, James G., Prison Libraries, Roy, Loriene, Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies, Association of

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Oral History of Eldon Ray James (September 2023), retired librarian, ALA member, and formerly incarcerated person, recorded on September 12, 19, and 26, 2023, containing video and audio recordings, and transcripts. Recordings include information on James' childhood, military service, universities attended, employment, work in radio and journalism, running for political office in Colorado, incarceration, becoming a librarian, work with Dr. Loriene Roy and ALA, the Prisoners Forum, the Prisoners Right to Read and work on international standards with IFLA, interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights, the Freedom to Read Foundation Honor Roll, reflections on his life, the library profession, and library services to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people.

Interview conducted by Deb Sica, Alameda County Library, questions developed by Deb Sica and Erin Berman, Alameda County Library.

Biographical Note

Eldon Ray James was born and raised in Texas and is a retired librarian and researcher, ALA member, and formerly incarerated person. He previously attended college, served in the US military, worked in radio and journalism, and ran for political office in Colorado. In 1996, James was arrested and then sentenced to 70 months in a minimum security Federal correctional camp. While incarcerated, James started taking classes and decided to become a librarian. After his release, James earned his BA in English (2005) and MSIS (2007) at the University of Texas at Austin. He attended his first ALA conference at the urging of his professor, Dr. Loriene Roy, then the ALA President. Since then, James has been highly involved in advocacy for library services to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people, working on the Prisoners' Right to Read and international standards in IFLA. In 2022, he received the Freedom to Read Foundation Roll of Honor award. His professional service includes, but not limited to, membership and work with the Intellectual Freedom Committee, Intellectual Freedom Round Table, Freedom to Read Foundation, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, Association of Specialized Government, and Cooperative Library Agencies, and Library Services to the Justice Involved.

Subject/Index Terms

Freedom to Read Foundation
Incarceration
Intellectual Freedom
Intellectual Freedom Committee
Intellectual Freedom Round Table
International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA)
Librarians
Library Bill of Rights
Library services to prisons
Neal, James G.
Prison Libraries
Roy, Loriene
Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies, Association of

Administrative Information

Repository: The American Library Association Archives

Accruals: 9/19/2023; 9/26/2023

Acquisition Source: Eldon Ray James

PDF Box/Folder List

URL: https://files.archon.library.illinois.edu/alasfa/9701087a.pdf

PDF finding aid for Eldon Ray James Oral History (97/1/87)

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