Material challenges are at an all-time high and public libraries are facing pressure from multiple avenues. The Allen County Public Library recently undertook an effort to train our staff (17 departments in 14 locations) in handling challenges to materials. This presentation is a chance to learn how we did this and what we learned from it.
Date Recorded: 7/10/2024
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Matthew Etzel, Collection Services Manager and Tonya Frandle, Public Services Manager / Allen County Public Library
Resources:
As the pressure to remove and censor books from our libraries increases, librarians have to be prepared to defend everyone’s right to read. Learn how one school corporation has dealt with several recent challenges to their school library collections and has been able to educate their staff and community on the tenants of intellectual freedom. While challenges can be stressful situations, the presentation will offer you several tools, resources and guidance to help you find some unintended positive outcomes when these contentious situations find their way to your library.
In this panel, four librarians will share their experience with a variety of challenges. Book, display, and program challenges, as well as experience with book banning groups will be discussed. Cheri Harris, from the Indiana State Library, will also go over a summary of key legal points to remember when dealing with challenges.
In late summer of 2016, Skokie (IL) Public Library created a Civic Lab–a mobile, pop-up initiative to increase civic discussion and civic literacy among library patrons of all ages. Hear from Christine Goertz and Amy Koester, two members of the Civic Lab team, to learn about the background of the Civic Lab, how many departments come together to support civic literacy, and the three types of pop-up events that make up the majority of Civic Lab appearances. They’ll also discuss the lessons learned from a year and a half of civic literacy programming. Participants will leave the webinar with ideas for implementing civic literacy initiatives in their own libraries.
New to the profession? Or want a refresher on library responsibilities regarding censorship and intellectual property? In this webinar, we will look at different ways that librarians consider ALA best practices when making collection decisions. We will also look at resources for determining fair use and intellectual property considerations in your school or library program.
Our society is full of turmoil, confusion, and protests. Libraries and library professionals have been in the front line to offer libraries as a free, safe place where the public can debate, learn, and have conversations in their communities that include race and gender inequality, politics, social injustices, and many other topics. Whether you are pro or con, neutral or passionate; libraries offer refuge, support, and most importantly, information. In this webinar, you will hear examples of how a few libraries have tackled some of the nation’s toughest issues and how you can promote conversation and civil discourse in your community.
Join us as Chris Lafave of the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library and Professor Johnathan Eller of the Center for Ray Bradbury Studies explain how their organizations celebrate the lives and works of two often-banned authors. They’ll share their experiences and best practices when it comes to banned books, information about their outreach services, and details on how Vonnegut Library and Bradbury Center are celebrating Banned Books Week.