00:25:38 Juliane Morian: Is there a repository where we can find vetted articles that refute unsubstantiated statistics that might come up as part of a challenge or in public comments? 00:25:42 Cathy Lancaster - LM (she/her/hers): 100% Amber, you are not alone. 00:25:57 Clare Membiela: You go Amber! 00:26:04 Amber McLain - Patmos Library: Thank you :) 00:26:25 Debbie Mikula - MLA: Stronger Together Amber! Stronger Together 00:27:09 Alison Blattner: Thank you for sharing and being vulnerable, Amber. You're doing amazing in such a difficult situation. 00:27:36 Clare Membiela: Please also find a good attorney to assist with policies and with your board and this situation in general 00:27:42 Lisa Buttigieg, MLA: 100% behind you Amber! 00:27:48 Carol Dawe: Know your facts too. Amber was really prepared! 00:27:51 Debbie Mikula - MLA: @Juliane - MLA, LM, Coop Directors are working on this and you will begin to see resources that we are all collecting and developing 00:28:37 Amber McLain - Patmos Library: Thank you everyone! 00:29:12 Heather Wood-Gramza: Amber you are AMAZING!!! I am so privileged to call you colleague and friend. You are definitely not alone. 00:37:02 Amber McLain - Patmos Library: The precedent that pulling anything is bad. It's the rock that starts a landslide. 00:37:38 Dillon Geshel, Superiorland Library Cooperative: Yes, please share, Lance! 00:37:45 Emma DeCenso: Me too 00:38:00 laura fromwiller: https://pridesource.com/article/the-public-library-gateway-to-knowledge-or-portal-to-porn/ 00:38:03 Angela Klocek: Good morning all 00:39:12 laura fromwiller: In the article above, I think Scott Duimstra handled this situation perfectly! 00:39:59 Scott Duimstra: @laura thank you for the kind words! 00:40:29 Amber Sheerin, MLA (she/her): @Laura agreed! Another great example 00:41:06 Clare Membiela: @Lance Nicely said! 00:42:43 Heather Wood-Gramza: @Lance--Thanks for taking a stand and upholding first amendment rights for all. 00:42:52 Clare Membiela: We have a couple of information sheets Book Challenges, Censorship, & Michigan Public Libraries PDF https://www.michigan.gov/documents/libraryofmichigan/Book_Challenges_Censorship__Michigan_Public_Libraries_742861_7.pdf Handling Materials Reconsideration, Challenges, and Censorship, a Checklist -https://www.michigan.gov/documents/libraryofmichigan/Handling_Materials_Reconsideration_Challenges_and_Censorship_a_Checklist_742860_7.pdf 00:43:06 Dennis Kreps: Collecting of these types of resources is a great help 00:43:42 Clare Membiela: Link to register for session tomorrow at LM: https://libraryofmichigan.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/libraryofmichigan/event.jsp?event=2178 00:47:10 Dillon Geshel, Superiorland Library Cooperative: Maybe we need a really good template for the policy aspect, that can be shared with all MI libraries. 00:47:39 Dennis Kreps: Agreed. Templates or examples are helpful. 00:48:19 Carol Dawe: MCDA and the coops will be working with MLA and LM to put this together. 00:53:11 Amber McLain - Patmos Library: Lance is the expert on this! I'm a newbie! 00:54:11 Heather Wood-Gramza: I think it's also important to talk about self-censorship with library staff throughout Michigan. Some of the biggest issues with censorship happen from within the library itself. 00:54:45 Cathy Lancaster - LM (she/her/hers): True @Heather! 00:55:11 Juliane Morian: I completely agree with Amber on the effectiveness of one-on-one conversations. At my library, a variety of issues were initiated over email, but when I called the patron(s) to discus their concern, it was well-received and effectively stopped the "challenge" from escalating. 00:56:22 Dennis Kreps: When faced with such a challenge, is contacting MLA your suggested first response for support and/or guidance? 00:57:11 Debbie Mikula - MLA: Start here - more to come soon: https://www.milibraries.org/book-challenges-reporting-censorship 00:58:22 Mari Garza: Well said Heather! 00:58:30 John Clexton: right on Heather 00:58:47 Amber McLain - Patmos Library: When we had a challenge, I reported to ALA OIF, reached out to Clare, MLA, and my coop director essentially on the same day to get as much support as soon as possible 00:58:50 Jessica Little: To confirm, since it seems like this conversation is focused on contemporary works being challenged by conservative pockets, and not the other challenges we're seeing to remove or move/classify/put labels old materials that reflect norms of the time that are no longer considered acceptable, like the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, the four Dr. Seuss books no longer being printed, the works of Harvey Weinstein, etc. These strategies work for all of these challenges or are those handled a different way? Sorry, this may have been mentioned, but I've had to step away a few times and missed some content. 00:59:53 Andrea Ingmire: We had an LGBT support program for teens challenged. We added programs to our reconsideration form and to the materials selection policy as a result. These challenges are not just limited to books... 00:59:58 Debbie Mikula - MLA: MLA’s statement of principle here: https://www.milibraries.org/intellectual-freedom 01:01:04 Heather Wood-Gramza: @Andrea Ingmire...great point! Programs and any service really needs to be considered in this discussion. 01:01:11 Robert Holley: What about the opposite issue of someone who wants to have anti-LGBT materials added on the same principle of intellectual freedom and first amendment rights? They might also state that the library is supposed to support multiple viewpoints and that major religious groups remain opposed to the LGBT lifestyle. 01:01:18 Juliane Morian: @Andrea On the heels of "these challenges are not limited to books..." we had recommendation lists come under intense scrutiny as well. 01:01:21 Dennis Kreps: We include documents such as the Library Bill of Rights and Freedom to read statement with our board orientation materials 01:02:31 Clare Membiela: Debbie - Can we donate to the fund for legal help for libraries experiencing challenges? 01:03:02 Matt Weston: Amen 01:03:11 Debbie Mikula - MLA: Donations to the Intellectual Freedom fund can be done through this link: https://www.milibraries.org/donation 01:03:19 Jan Carr: Politically agnostic - great phrase! 01:03:40 Steven Bowers: Is there a role for collection development policy to state that things that are generally accepted as not factual are not collected by the library? 01:04:05 Cathy Lancaster - LM (she/her/hers): We had a great Diversity & Inclusion webinar just yesterday. As soon as that's closed captioned I'll push it out to the listservs! 01:05:10 Steven Bowers: What about materials that disparage groups or individuals. Can policy state those materials, if not fact based, are not collected? 01:05:13 Jan Carr: Book recommend - "Freedom for the thought that you hate". Reminded me that the 1st Amendment applies to even those viewpoints I fine repulsive. 01:05:46 Alison Blattner: Thank you for the rec, Jan! Definitely going to look into that. 01:08:27 Rebekah Craft: Steven, we include in our policy that the material must be accurate in our policy 01:09:12 Steven Bowers: Thanks, Rebekah. 01:09:14 Steven Bowers: https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/NotCensorshipButSelection 01:09:25 Joni Henretty: @Cathy Lancaster - very interested in the Diversity and Inclusion webinar 01:11:57 Kathy Lester: Here is an ALA resource that was just updated: https://www.ala.org/advocacy/fight-censorship 01:12:26 Dennis Kreps: This all sounds great! 01:13:28 Kathy Lester: Both Troy and Novi High Schools have recently had challenges -- so, it is not just the west side of the state. 01:14:03 Amber Sheerin, MLA (she/her): @Kathy - agreed. This is already everywhere. I could have phrased that better 01:14:46 Rebecca Higgerson: Brandon Library had an ongoing challenge. We're in northern Oakland County. 01:15:25 Jenny Marr: Thank you for the great information and for sharing your experiences! 01:15:34 Lisa Buttigieg, MLA: Thank you Amber and Lance, excellent advice 01:15:57 Cynthia Simpson: Exceptional program! Thank you so much for your input and tips :) 01:16:00 Heather Wood-Gramza: Thanks so much for this session! I so appreciate the insights and support. 01:16:13 Sandi Blakney: Thank you! 01:16:14 Clare Membiela: One take is to emphasize the library's legal liability for unconstitutional behavior. 01:16:18 Denise Stefanick: Is there a specific group (s) name that you can identify for our reference 01:16:18 Kathy Lester: Thank you all for the information and conversation. 01:16:23 Emma DeCenso: Thank you and stay strong ❤️ 01:16:25 Julie Farkas: Thank you so much! Very helpful! 01:16:30 Juliane Morian: Thank you, all! 01:16:30 Eric Palmer: Thank you Amber and Lance Great information 01:16:33 Michael Mercatante: Thank you for a great webinar. 01:16:36 Dennis Kreps: Thank you all for the information, conversation, and support! 01:16:46 John Clexton: Would love to see KDL policy 01:16:52 Nora Montgomery: Thank you for the information. 01:17:03 Denise Stefanick: thank you