Prepared to Meet the Challenge

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I don't really think about the degree of difficulty or the possibility of making a mistake.

I just try to relax and let my preparation and training take over.

• Simone Biles

Preparing staff, boards, and supervising bodies

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Start with the Basics

• For frontline staff
• Volunteers
• Librarians
• Directors
• Trustees
• Friends of the Library
• Other Governing Bodies

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ALA Code of Ethics

1. We provide the highest level of service to all library users through appropriate and usefully organized resources; equitable service policies; equitable access; and accurate, unbiased, and courteous responses to all requests.
2. We uphold the principles of intellectual freedom and resist all efforts to censor library resources.
3. We protect each library user's right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted.
4. We respect intellectual property rights and advocate balance between the interests of information users and rights holders.
5. We treat co-workers and other colleagues with respect, fairness, and good faith, and advocate conditions of employment that safeguard the rights and welfare of all employees of our institutions.
6. We do not advance private interests at the expense of library users, colleagues, or our employing institutions.
7. We distinguish between our personal convictions and professional duties and do not allow our personal beliefs to interfere with fair representation of the aims of our institutions or the provision of access to their information resources.
8. We strive for excellence in the profession by maintaining and enhancing our own knowledge and skills, by encouraging the professional development of co-workers, and by fostering the aspirations of potential members of the profession.
9. We affirm the inherent dignity and rights of every person. We work to recognize and dismantle systemic and individual biases; to confront inequity and oppression; to enhance diversity and inclusion; and to advance racial and social justice in our libraries, communities, profession, and associations through awareness, advocacy, education, collaboration, services, and allocation of resources and spaces.

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Adopted at the 1939 Midwinter Meeting by the ALA Council; amended June 30, 1981; June 28, 1995; January 22, 2008; and June 29, 2021.

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http://www.ala.org/tools/ethics

Foundational Documents

ALA Code of Ethics

http://www.ala.org/tools/ethics

Library Bill of Rights

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill

The Freedom to Read Statement

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/freedomreadstatement

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Access to Library Resources & Services for Minors

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/minors

Access to Resources & Services in the School Library

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/accessresources

Other Interpretations

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations

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Your Library’s Mission, Vision & Values

CMPL - Improve lives and build a stronger community

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UNCG University Libraries - Through expertise in information services, the University Libraries foster the success and impact of the UNC Greensboro community by promoting learning, inspiring creativity and enhancing research and collaboration in a diverse and innovative environment.

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Your Library’s Mission, Vision & Values

Charleston Co Schools - CCSD School Library Programs provide equitable access to diverse, current, and relevant materials. We empower students to discover, create, and expand their understanding of the world in an open and welcoming environment. We support all school and community stakeholders through collaborating, teaching, and removing barriers to learning.

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Selection Policy Toolkit

• Four sections: (1) an introduction which helps to explain why a library needs these policies, (2) the components of a selection policy, (3) procedures for reconsideration, and (4) an appendix which includes the core intellectual freedom documents and additional resources.

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Place your screenshot here

http://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/selectionpolicytoolkit

What does your policy require?

• Who can challenge?
• Formal = written form
• Timeline/due dates
• Composition
• Appeal process
• Decision’s staying power
• Challenged material stays in circulation

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How to implement policy (& why it’s important)

• Identify your stakeholders
• Build your foundation
• Collaborate
• Communicate
• Revisit and revise

• We’re professionals – blueprint to the operations of the library
• Communication
• What's important
• Where we’re headed
• Who makes decisions and how
• Intellectual freedom rights of patrons
• Our “bottom line”

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On the Same Page

• Knowledge is power
• Consider a flowchart
• Communication is Key
• List of people in the chain
• Press “pause”
• Agreement on steps
• But what if complaint comes straight to BOE, City Council, Trustees?
• What to do if policy/procedure isn’t followed?

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Overall Course Goal

Equip library workers with the culturally responsive professional soft skills needed to build strong civic networks that bring together and empower different community constituencies, interests, and populations for proactive support of diverse library services, programming, and collections.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of READCON, the learner will be able to:

1. Engage in constructive dialogue on potentially divisive aspects of library programming, service, and material challenges.
2. Build trust with and between members of diverse communities.
3. De-escalate confrontational situations.
4. Develop consensus and community buy-in for library advocacy needs.
5. Empower community members as active participants in local decision-making.

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Nothing is more powerful in defending intellectual freedom than when ordinary people stand up and demand to be heard.

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Who are our library allies and advocates?

PFLAG / GLSEN

NAACP

Red Wine & Blue

ACLU

GSA school groups

Pen America

Foundation for Individual Rights & Expression

NCAC

CBLDF

ILA

NEA, PENC, AFT

Authors

Parents

Students

Fellow Educators

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https://www.getreadystayready.info/

What can we do outside our libraries?

Legislation/Regulation Trends

• Curriculum Censorship (“Don’t Say Gay,” Divisive Concepts bans) (17+ states)​
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• Targeted regulation of “sexually explicit” materials in public libraries​
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• Criminalizing the provision of access to books
• Attacks on ALA
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• Attacks on funding mechanisms
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• Eliminating long-standing legal protections for librarians and educators (IN)​
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• Parents’ Bill of Rights ​
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• Targeted regulation of research databases and digital online material (filtering, funding) (TX)​
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• Private Right of Action Evading Constitutional Review (ID)​
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• Parental and Political Oversight Boards (League City, TX)​
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• BUT ALSO …. “Right to Read” or Anti-Book Ban Legislation, Book Sanctuaries

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SL 2023-106/NC GS 114A aka SB49

GS § 125-18 & 19

2 Major Areas of Concern: Student Privacy & Age-appropriate instruction on gender, sexual identity, sexuality

https://scdailygazette.com/2024/04/29/senators-agree-to-restrict-childrens-access-to-prurient-books/

https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/south-carolina-school-library-book-bans/article_fd3dbc54-f762-11ee-8f22-0b29f08a24b5.html

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NC SB 90 Back in Play

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https://webservices.ncleg.gov/ViewDocSiteFile/80736

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Cases related to recent laws…

GLBT Youth in Iowa Schools Task Force v Reynolds, Case Nos. 4:23-cv-474, 23-cv-478, 2023 WL 9052113 (Dec 29, 2023) - on appeal to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals

-District court found that the state ban on books in school libraries describing or referencing “sex acts” was unconstitutional

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Book Ratings Case

• Book People v. Wong, Case No. 1:23-CV-00858-ADA (W.D. Tex. 2023) (preliminary injunction granted finding statute likely to be unconstitutional), aff’d., Case No. 23-50668 (5th Cir. January 17,2024) (holding that labeling requirement was unconstitutional compelled speech).

• The statute required book vendors selling books to public school libraries in Texas to label their books as “sexually explicit” or “sexually relevant.”

• Books labeled “sexually explicit” could not be purchased by school libraries and books labeled “sexually relevant” would require parental consent.

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Current Book Removal Cases

Pickens County, SC

Lake County, FL

Escambia County, FL (two separate cases)

Temecula, CA

Nassau County, FL

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3 cases in public libraries - Arkansas, Alabama, Kansas

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What can we do to support each other?

• Articulate the message that school, academic, and public libraries serve ALL students and ALL community members.
• Share the impact that access and equity has on patrons
• Empower supporters to speak up!
• Vote!!
• Stories matter! There are things that visiting the library and reading diverse literature does that you can’t quantify.
• Build relationships within the community
• Keep the public informed
• Partner with organizations who are also being impacted

Speaking up to Administration/Government officials

• Get on the agenda! Make an appointment!
• Always focus on the impact on students/patrons.
• What happens when policy isn’t followed?
• Legal Ramifications - Discuss potential risk

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You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. - Christopher Robin (A.A. Milne)

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“

Q & A

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• Dr. April M. Dawkins
• Assistant Professor,
• Department of Information, Library, and Research Sciences, UNC Greensboro
• amdawkin@uncg.edu
• For confidential correspondence - amdawkins.uncg@gmail.com
• Website - https://www.aprilmdawkins.com/

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