Test Your Library Legal IQ

John Smith and Sally Jones are employees of the Litigious Public Library. John and Sally are involved in an association called the “Good News Librarians” and posted a flyer on a bulletin board next to the refrigerator in the employee lounge. As stated in the flyer, the Good News Librarians call on individuals to “preserve our workplace with integrity” and “is a forum for people of faith to express their views on contemporary issues of the day with respect for the natural family, marriage, and family values.” The Good News Librarians also “oppose all views that seek to redefine the natural family and marriage.” In fact, in its “Statement of Faith”, the Good News Librarians explain that “we believe the natural family is defined as a man and a woman, their children by birth or adoption, or the surviving remnant thereof (including single parents)” and that “we believe in family values that promote abstinence, marriage, fidelity in marriage and devotion to our children.”

The flyer came to the attention of Tiffany Weeks, a lesbian employed by Litigious Public Library who used the refrigerator by which the flyer was posted. Shortly after seeing the flyer, she spoke with John Smith about the flyer. After the conversation she decided to complain to the city attorney’s office. The library’s branch manager worked with the city attorney to investigate the allegations. The city attorney eventually ordered the branch manager to take the flyer down. Were John and Sally’s first amendment rights violated?

Other things to think about:

What if the flyer was posted on a bulletin board near the front doors of the library?
What if the flyer was not posted at all, but rather offered to library employees during lunch or break?
What if John and Sally handed out the flyers outside the front doors of the library on their days off?
What if John and Sally e-mailed the flyers to all library employees?

Note: This scenario is hypothetical although not without legal premise. Please post your comments and questions.

What's the beef or should that be porkchop??

Just in time for banned books week there's been a few more challenges hitting the airwaves. The Arizona Republic reported that George Carlin's audio book, When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops? is being challenged for being too racy, irreverent or politically incorrect for public consumption. Perhaps there might have been a clue to irreverence gleaned from the title, or simply based on the fact that it's authored by Carlin. Then the same Arizona Republic article (September 19th, 2007) indicated a customer has requested that the picture book Where Willy Went (Allan) be moved to a parenting collection, rather than the children's area - since Willy is a sperm and the book is about sex. And, not new to the stage of challenged books is - It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex and Sexual Health (Harris & Emberley) has started a conversation in the Sun Journal on immorality, pornography and "normal". Next on the list is a too sexually explicit challenge on the book Sandpiper by Ellen Wittliner, which was on the list of YALSA's Best Books for Young Adults.

Creighton University Cancels Anne Lamott

I was excited to see Anne Lamott on the schedule with Creighton University for their Women & Health Lecture Series on September 19th, and then extremely disappointed to receive an e-mail notice yesterday that the public lecture had been cancelled. "After careful review of Ms. Lamott's most recent writings (which postdated her contract agreement), we have concluded that key points are in opposition to Catholic teaching which, in our judgment makes her an inappropriate choice for the Women and Health Series" - so, the invitation from Creighton to Lamott to speak was withdrawn. (An article by Veronica Stickney in yesterday's Omaha-World Herald provides additional details.)

An article by Kevin Cole in today's Omaha World-Herald however reports that another organization, Connections - a coalition of Omaha churches, has taken it upon themselves to sponsor a program with Lamott on September 19th at the Holland Center. It appears Lamott and IF fans owe their thanks to the quick action of Rev. Nancy Brink of North Side Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) who contacted Lamott after hearing of the cancellation with a new invitation to speak. The event is titled: "Faith and Writing and Whatever: A Night With Anne Lamott." Lamott is the author of six novels and five works of nonfiction, the title that got me hooked in reading her work is: Traveling Mercies - Some Thoughts On Faith.

If you've got a favorite Lamott story or quote, additional information on her upcoming visit to Omaha, or items to add to the discussion share them by clicking on the comment link below.

And Tango Makes Three

And Tango Makes Three, an award-winning children's book based on a true story by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell was listed by ALA's Office of Intellectual Freedom as #1 in their top 10 of annual challenged works for 2006. For those of you who have read the book, own the book, or want to get in on the discussion - what do you think? Have their been concerns expressed on this title or others in Nebraska libraries?

8" x 11" Posters for One State, One Banned Book

Happy Monday everyone! Trying to make life as simple as possible. Here's a link to the PDFs for 2 posters.

Poster 1: 3 books along left edge.

Poster 2: Rebel poster.

And just to spark hopefully some conversations-
who's your favorite "rebel"?

One State One Banned Book

Celebrate banned books week September 29th through October 6th and read one, two or all three of these award winning books! Of course these are great titles to read and discuss anytime.

There's also some great free events happening you can attend in Lincoln and Omaha including programs with the Angel's Theatre Company and also Nebraska Humanities speaker, Wally Seiler, as Mark Twain. See the flyer above for additional information, or feel free to post questions here, or by contacting any of the Nebraska Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee members listed on this page.

If you'd like us to e-mail you a copy of the flyer for posting or sharing - email: bsealey@alltel.net.

Banned Books Week September 29th - October 6, 2007

Banned Books week, Celebrating the Freedom to Read is observed during the last week of September each year, www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bannedbooksweek.htm. We'd love to hear what Nebraska libraries, bookstores and others are doing to celebrate Banned Books Week. So, chime in with your ideas, activities, programs - as the best blogs, of course, are those with comments.

"Intellectual Freedom implies a circle, and that circle is broken if either freedom of expression or access to ideas is stifled."

(Intellectual Freedom Manual, ALA, 7th edition)