Usually, nobody from the public shows up to a board meeting. Suddenly, there are 15 people. Are you ready?
The 2021-2022 'Surge' of library challenges marked the biggest number of reported attempts to remove library materials since the founding of the Office for Intellectual Freedom. The technique shifted from quiet requests for reconsideration to very public challenges at board meetings. Jamie LaRue, who has dealt with over 1200 challenges in his career, will talk about best practices for managing public comment sessions.
Through this webinar, you will learn:
• Strategies for managing public comment sessions so they don't devolve into disruption.
• Policy tips to manage challenges with institutional purpose and grace.
• Some new legal wrinkles about requests for reconsideration and patron privacy.
Book Bans and Censorship: Managing Public Comment Sessions & Material Challenges
Jamie LaRue is the director of the Garfield County Public Library District in Western Colorado. The author of two books: On Censorship: A Public Librarian Examines Cancel Culture in the US and The New Inquisition: Understanding and Managing Intellectual Freedom Challenges, Jamie has been a Public Library Director for many years, as well as a weekly newspaper columnist and cable TV host. From January 2016 to November 2018, he was director of ALA’s Office of Intellectual Freedom, and the Freedom to Read Foundation. Jamie has written, spoken and consulted extensively on intellectual freedom issues, leadership and organizational development, community engagement and the future of libraries.
