The Montana Library Association presented Johanna Freivalds, Lockwood Middle School librarian, the 2007 Pat Williams Intellectual Freedom Award at their annual conference held in Helena, April 25-28. Participating in the award ceremony were Lt. Governor John Bohlinger (1995 award recipient) and association president Lyn McKinney.

The Intellectual Freedom Award is conferred upon an individual or group who has made significant contributions during the past year to the enhancement of First Amendment rights. The recipient must have demonstrated a clear understanding of the principles, nature, responsibilities and implications of the First Amendment in one or more the following ways:

1. In defense of the principles in the face of a serious challenge to it which defense is not necessarily limited to libraries
2. In support of the principles through an active role in:
   a. Formulating programs which develop people’s ability to deal with a full
       range of opinion/controversy and with the issues associated with
       such controversy, or
   b. Developing or materially assisting in the development, of a legal base
       for the continued enjoyment of freedom of mind, its strengthening,
       and its defense, or
   c. Expanding the philosophical foundation of the principle or contributing to
      better understanding of it. Intellectual Freedom Award.