In addition to its legal work, the FTRF engages in advocacy and public awareness, such as its sponsorship of the annual celebration of "Banned Books Week".
The FTRF was established in 1969 by members of the American Library Association, including Judith Krug, Alexander Allain, and Carrie C Robinson.
[3][2][4] The organization was founded as "the American Library Association's response to its members' interest in having adequate means to support and defend librarians whose positions are jeopardized because of their resistance to abridgments of the First Amendment; and to set legal precedent for the freedom to read on behalf of all people".
[5] Allain felt that there should be overlap of both organizations so that the focus remained centered on intellectual freedom and could be worked on in harmony.
[5] The organization's charter describes four purposes for the Foundation, including:[4] Promoting and protecting the freedom of speech and of the press; Protecting the public's right of access to information and materials stored in the nation's libraries; Safeguarding libraries' right to disseminate all materials contained in their collections; and