What should library staff do when self-proclaimed “citizen journalists” enter the library claiming a right to question employees and film in any space accessible to the public? The May 11 webinar “First Amendment Audits: What Your Library Board and Staff Need to Know”, presented by United for Libraries and the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, will share how you can prepare by adopting well-crafted policies and training staff.

This program will also cover the library as a public forum and the necessary components of user behavior policies and meeting room policies. The program will include opportunities to participate in role-play scenarios that demonstrate best practices when board members interact with library users and members of the public. The program will include a Q&A with presenters Deborah Caldwell-Stone (pictured), sirector of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom and Executive Director of the Freedom to Read Foundation, and Lori Fisher, Assistant State Librarian for New Hampshire.

This webinar is free for Intellectual Freedom Roundtable members, and United for Libraries Statewide All-Access Partners (those in MD, MA, MI, MT, NE, NH, ND, OR, SC, SD, TX, & VA). Visit the eLearning registration page for more information and to register. Statewide All-Access Partners can register here.