October Legal Seminar: In-Person Event!

This course will cover the following legal issues in libraries:

• Content: a discussion of the extant law relating to content objections, e.g. book banning in libraries, both physical and online collections, and the immunity for online content when the library is a qualifying service provider under federal law. Time permitting a discussion of specific legislative measures attempting to control content in libraries in NELA-member states concludes the seminar.
• Privacy: a discussion of relevant privacy concepts in state law, review of the NELA 6-member state library patron confidentiality statutes.
• Free Speech: The constitutional framework courts use to determine the constitutionality of a government regulation, i.e., your library policy, limiting the free speech rights of patrons.
• Spaces: a discussion of library cases involving the use of meeting rooms by patrons and a review of legal principles applicable when regulating public employee speech on social media.
• Patrons: a review of principles and cases applicable to regulating patron codes of behavior, including the design of constitutional measures by the library, i.e., library responses that impact patron Liberty Interests.

Many thanks to our generous sponsor!