The Colorado Association of Libraries Intellectual Freedom Committee awarded Jamie LaRue, Director of Douglas County Libraries, the 2007 Julie J. Boucher Memorial Award for Intellectual Freedom. This is the second time LaRue has won the award. The award was given in recognition of Larue's new book, The New Inquisition: Understanding Intellectual Freedom Challenges. The book is available for checkout at Douglas County Libraries ( DouglasCountyLibraries.org, 303-791-READ).

The Committee noted, "This excellent and very readable book provides a historical perspective on censorship and outlines more recent cases of interest to us all. Jamie LaRue has long been a prominent voice in Colorado Libraries, and tireless worker for intellectual freedom. He has a gift for communicating library issues and philosophies."

In response to receiving the award, LaRue said, "I've been writing this book, mostly in the back of my mind, for over 10 years. There is a tension between the core values of librarianship -the essential dignity of individual inquiry, the right to privacy- and a society that at this moment in history seems to place a premium on fear. We forget that this nation was founded on the most profound intellectual courage. Ultimately, the issue is about more than libraries. But libraries have an important role to play as both common and neutral ground, a place where community can be rediscovered, and understanding take root. I am deeply honored to receive the Julie Boucher Award for Intellectual Freedom. Julie was a friend and colleague, and I know she'd be pleased to see her name linked with advocates for free speech."