The Library’s Legal Answers for Meeting Rooms and Displays

When your public library invites the community to its spaces—a meeting room, an auditorium, bulletin board, or exhibit case—you take on the responsibility to uphold First Amendment rights of free expression. That includes the members of your frontline staff, who are busy fielding calls and responding to emails. Grounded in the authors’ expert guidance, this e-book will give your staff the knowledge they need to keep your library out of messy legal problems. The convenient Q& A format offers straightforward answers to common situations, addressing such topics as: the legal concept of “public forum” and how it applies to meeting rooms and the outside grounds of the library; the rights of religious groups to use library spaces; understanding the balance between free speech rights and offensive ideas or behavior; and dealing with groups with discriminatory policies. Providing authoritative answers backed up with case citations for your trustees and attorneys, this e-book will ensure you feel confident serving your community while staying within the law.