The Library of Michigan provides all Michigan public libraries with membership in the ALA division of United for Libraries, UFL. Each month UFL holds a “Learning Live” session. The December 14 session titled, “Library Boards, Intellectual Freedom, and Challenges” is now available as a recording on the members only area of the UFL site.

According to a recent article in American Libraries (A Conflict of Values , Nov. 1), “Public libraries are facing a wave of trustee candidates whose goals challenge intellectual freedom, community service, and other core values of librarianship.” How can you protect your library and board from finding itself in a position where a board member’s ideologies oppose core library tenets? This session will focus on preparedness strategies, community building, and how to create strong policies that address programming, budgeting, and services.

To access the recording of this session follow these steps:

Visit https://www.ala.org/united/ and click on Statewide Access-Find Your State button at the top of the page.
Scroll down to the Michigan section. Either login or register for your membership account.
Once you login you will find several squares for each class or session recording. Find the one titled, Library Boards, Intellectual Freedom, and Challenges and click on it. You can access the slides, details and the recording from there.

Michigan public library staff can set up their own profiles at the UFL site to access the membership resources provided with the statewide membership courtesy of the Library of Michigan. If you have any questions, please contact us at LM-LibTraining@michigan.gov.

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Shannon White
Library Development Manager
Library of Michigan, 702 W. Kalamazoo, Lansing, MI 48909
Whites29@michigan.gov 517-335-1507 | www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan