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Question Submission Date
Professional Insurance Coverage for Book Challenge Lawsuits

Is there professional insurance for librarians? Given the book-banning lawsuits, do librarians and library workers need additional insurance to cover possible lawsuits? Other states have passed laws fining library workers $10,000. Besides the library's D and O insurance, do librarians and library workers need additional insurance coverage?
Dos and Don'ts Of Addressing School Library Censorship

NOTE: On 5/13/22, Erie 1 BOCES hosted a program[1] regarding school library materials management.  That same week, the Erie County Bar Association hosted a CLE on the same topic[2].

At both programs, school district library personnel discussed the ethics of their professions.  They also shared their personal experiences with collection management issues, including attempted censorship of library materials.

Both sessions were inspired by concerns, rooted in the current political climate, that school districts could feel pressure to sidestep policy and direct the removal or limitation of "controversial" library materials without due process.

The law, policy, and case law covered at the session was extensive. Below is a summary of the major take-aways, in a "Do's and Don'ts" format.

QUESTION

What are the "legal do's and don'ts" of school district library collection management in New York?

 

[1] "Collection, Selection, Objection": the recording can be located through your regional BOCES or school district library system.

[2] More information on this "Continuing Legal Education" seminar is here:  https://eriebar.org/product/2433-more-than-a-book-ban-advising-municipalities-schools-and-libraries-during-a-book-challenge/

 
Book Challenges and Records Retention

In a local school district, multiple books have been challenged recently. This week, the School Board received an email from a community member referencing record keeping for library materials and electronic records retention. The district Superintendent wants to make sure that the district is keeping the right kind of library records, and that they are keeping them for the legal amount of time. Attached are two documents to review. In the first document titled District Records, under #15, it advised that districts should keep a list of book lists and school library reports. With this, should the district have kept a list of all books in their libraries in any given year?