Eli M. Oboler
Eli M. Oboler was a prominent librarian and advocate for intellectual freedom, notably serving at Idaho State College (now Idaho State University) for over thirty years. After earning a degree in library science in 1942, he served in the U.S. Army before embarking on his library career. Oboler was instrumental in the planning and development of two libraries at the institution, one of which is named after him. He held significant leadership roles, including serving as president of the American Library Association, and was a prolific writer, contributing hundreds of articles to various journals and publications. His published works, such as "The Fear of the Word: Censorship and Sex" and "Defending Intellectual Freedom," reflect his strong stance against censorship, which he described as an impediment to societal progress. Known for his sharp wit, Oboler was both a vocal critic and a passionate defender of intellectual discourse. His legacy continues to influence discussions around freedom of expression and censorship in libraries and educational institutions.
Subject Terms
Eli M. Oboler
Identification: American librarian
Significance: Oboler was one of the leading voices against censorship among academic librarians
Oboler took a degree in library science in 1942, then served in the U.S. Army. In 1949 he began his three-decade career as librarian at Idaho State College (later University) in Pocatello, where he planned and supervised the building of two libraries (one of these is now named for him). He also served as president of the American Library Association, wrote hundreds of articles for journals and newspapers, conducted radio and television broadcasts about books and ideas, edited several library magazines, and published two books: The Fear of the Word: Censorship and Sex (1974) and Defending Intellectual Freedom (1980).
Advancing his opinions with humor and subtle wordplay, Oboler was called “the sharpest needle on campus.” He could attack angrily and bluntly, and was equally likely to denounce censorship on his own campus, in his own state, in the nation and in the world. When Idaho State University named its library after Oboler in 1983, Judith Krug of the American Library Association said that Oboler, more than any other librarian, made public his support for intellectual freedom. He called the censor “the enemy of the truth,” and quipped that “Man’s stumbling climb from savagery to civilization is only impeded, not stopped, by the censor.”