Trends in library intellectual freedom: Analysis of studies since the 2000s

Abstract

Intellectual freedom has long been recognized as a core value in the library field, as it ensures users’ rights to access information and express themselves. However, existing studies have primarily focused on the issues of individual intellectual freedom and have rarely analyzed discourses on intellectual freedom comprehensively. This study aims to address this research gap by analyzing keywords, major themes, and evolving trends in research on library-related intellectual freedom since the 2000s. A total of 163 articles were collected from Q1 and Q2 journals indexed in the databases of Web of Science (WoS) and Library and Information Science Abstracts (LISA) using keywords, such as “censorship.” The study employed the term frequency-inverse document frequency (TF-IDF) analysis, Sentence-BERT embeddings, topic modeling, keyword network analysis, time-series analysis, and qualitative interpretation. Studies were categorized into four major thematic categories: (1) Intellectual freedom and technological control, (2) Intellectual freedom within specific institutional contexts, (3) General censorship and institutional responses, and (4) Theoretical foundations and institutionalization of intellectual freedom. In particular, topics such as the impact of technological advancements—including filtering, privacy, and artificial intelligence, increased censorship in correctional education settings, legal responses to censorship, and the intersection of intellectual freedom with equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) have emerged as critical. Furthermore, this study highlights the need to expand intellectual freedom research beyond Western contexts.