Hello from Baltimore, MD!

Howdy from Abilene Texas

Greetings from Brunswick County, NC !

Hello everyone! I am Maria Estrella, from Cleveland, Ohio.

Sarah Dentan, Stanislaus County Library (California's San Joaquin Valley)

Hello from Utah

Hi all, Tiffany Mautino from Mid-Continent Public Library in KC, Missouri.

Judith Lashman from Leavitt Area High School in Turner Maine

Hi from Indianapolis!

Jenny Abdelnour, FL Library Association

Good afternoon from Northern VA

Hi all. Sherry Machones from a VERY snowy and icy Lake Superior in Wisconsin

Hello from Georgia

Hello from Sarah Jo Zaharako at Wilmette, IL

Greetings from Canada!

Jonathan Clark from the Vermont Department of Libraries.

Hello, Joan Vigil from Medford, Oregon

Hi from North Dakota

Good afternoon and thanks for the Charlottesville, VA, area.

Hello from the Western Library System in snowy Scottsbluff

Hello from Chicago!!!

Hello from Wyoming!

Hello from Kristin Peace, Pepperdine University

Civille Brown retired public school intermediate librarian from CCISD in TX, living in Tuscaloosa, AL

Deborah Doyle, United for Libraries — in Sonoma County, California!

Greetings - Nashville here

Hi from British Columbia, Canada

Hello everyone, Jane from Madisonville, LA!

retired librarian and community activist in Virginia Beach, VA

Hello from Charlotte, NC

Good afternoon! Piscataway NJ

Hello, East Arkansas here.

Hello everyone, Hyattsville MD

Howdy, I'm Cara from Oklahoma!

Hello from Iowa City, Iowa

Hello from Provo, Utah!

Hi all from Kevin, Marx Library @ Yale University 🙂

Hello from Rhonda in Milwaukee!

Hello from Columbia, South Carolina!

Hello from Houston

Hello from Chicago!

Hello from leesburg va!

Hello everyone. Jenn Downey from A.K. Smiley Public Library in Redlands, CA.

Hello from Southern Maryland

Hello from BC!

Hello from Lewes, Delaware :)

Hello from West Virginia

Hello from North Texas.

Hello to everyone from the Berkshire Law Library, Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Hello from BC!

Hello from East Providence Public Libraries in RI!

Hello from Barrie, Ontario!

Hello from Kelowna, BC

Hi, from Houston TX

Hello from Chicagoland lol

Hi from Big Lake, Alaska!

Hello from Raleigh, North Carolina!

Hello from Dayton, OH!

Hello from Bluffton, SC

Joining from Maryland!

Hello from Sacramento, CA

Hi from Corte Madera, CA

Lessa, you rock!

Greetings from Albany NY and the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies - COSLA

Howdy from the University of North Texas in Denton.

Hello from south Louisiana

Hello from WV

Hello from New Jersey!

Hello from Charlottesville, VA

:waves from Worcester MA:

Hello from Arkansas

Hello from Lexington, VA

Hello from Arkansas. Hi Arlisa!

Howdy from Richmond VA :)

Hi Adam!!

Hello from Ohio!

hello from Newport News, VA!

Huzzah for Megan and Deborah!

Hello from DC!

Good day from Alexandria VA

Hello from Juneau, Alaska

Hello All. It is so good to be in community this afternoon.

Hello from Rhode Island!

Superstars all

+1 @jeremy!

and hi to the Exec Dir of Virginia Library Association, Lisa Varga

Have u tried this yet?

https://zoom.beulr.com/

Automatically records any meeting and takes notes with AI.

Hello from Louisiana!

Hello from Milwaukee WI

Hello from SC

Hello from chilly Las Vegas! (but no snow and lots of sun)

Deborah Doyle, United for Libraries from Sonoma County California.

An important talking point - Restricting access is a censorship practice...

Hello from Fredericksburg, VA!

hi from nj

Here is a stream of the actual city council meeting from a council member - many supporters of both sides in meeting. Brian starts talking at just over 10 minutes into the public forum.https://www.facebook.com/WendyTuckPKBD4/videos/518263376817905

Below are some links that I shared with state library director and a state library commissioner:Here are links to the newspaper article, and wtap story.My Op-ed after the group attended our Library Board meeting.https://parkwoodlib.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/op-ed.pdfhttp://www.mynewsonthego.com/newsandsent/Reader/Story.aspx?id=cf12fb72-4035-4ad0-830b-e9635616e581https://www.newsandsentinel.com/znewsletter-sunday/2022/10/parkersburg-council-hears-questions-about-library-material-2/https://www.newsandsentinel.com/news/local-news/2022/10/parkersburg-city-council-to-consider-library-censure-over-book/https://www.newsandsentinel.com/news/local-news/2022/11/parkersburg-city-council-withdraws-library-censure-resolution/https://www.wtap.com/2022/11/02/people-parkersburg-share-concerns-over-library-appropriate-materials-possible-censorship/

Way to go @Brian! Amazing work.

Yay @Lisa!

The story of where Virginia is today actually starts in 2013, when a parent in Fairfax, VA, wanted Toni Morrison’s Beloved out of schools. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/fairfax-county-parent-wants-beloved-banned-from-school-system/2013/02/07/99521330-6bd1-11e2-ada0-5ca5fa7ebe79_story.html

COuld we get those links via email? I don't want to leave the presentation now to go watch/read.

Lisa rocks!!

Hello Everyone, Robert from McAllen Library

Yes, we will post and share all the links afterwards

@Michelle +1

Here is where it is now:https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+sum+SB656

I’ve put all of the documents related to the case in a drop box. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/c8vsjjq09uptv1u/AADYtO-9jc4-KAdanmnzR2Bfa?dl=0

Thank you for sharing!

But Altman lost badly in his election.

Brilliant, Lisa

Love this!

🤟🏻

👏🏾

Great work Lisa!

Brilliant!

Lisa youre my hero

Thank you for that. Nice work Lisa!

Bravo Lisa!

A few more resources from VLA: Book Resume projecthttps://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_cWUJazZX5S64CtGziNQeQ3TiWY2Dmdt1bDCCeEJSLA/viewform?ts=62943463&edit_requested=trueThis is a similar to a program by the National Council of the Teachers of English, Book Rationales: https://ncte.org/book-rationales/

Lisa has been phenomenal!

You are inspiring, Lisa!

Lisa, I love that invoice! Such a profound theft of the social wage.

Lisa Rules

yay Martha! I heard you on The Daily. So inspiring! You are so brave.

The invoice idea is so terrific

Same here, Leah!

Great work everyone! And all best wishes for all of you that have been threatened and attacked.

Please consider nominations for Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award for fights for intellectual freedom. https://www.ala.org/rt/ifrt/hodges

Maia’s last name is pronounced “co-babe”

horrible @martha.

Union strong!

Thanks, Jenna Ingham

Wow, I'm so sorry. That's really awful Martha.

Thank you for sharing your story with so many, Martha. I first heard about it on The Daily podcast.

It is so insulting to label librarians "pedophiles," simply because you want to censor literature. That is a slap in the faces of real CSA/SA survivors and what they went through.

You’re very brave, Martha. You’re on the good side of the fight

Yes, the personal attacks are SCARY!

That is so disgusting, I'm so sorry you've faced this

How is that not slanderous?

Defamation too.

You are an amazing person Martha, stay strong!

Hi Karin, you hand is raised. Can I help you?

The students were amazing!!

I'm so sorry you had to go through that, Martha. You are an inspiration.

So painful. <3

I recommend watching that Board meeting on YouTube - those brave teens are so inspiring.

Thank you so much Brian, Lisa, and Martha (and Lesliediana) for sharing these important stories.

Sorry, didn't mean to do that.

Thanks for your courage and determination, Martha. You are a fierce warrior.

Martha thank you for fighting for student's right to learn. Extremism is on the rise and education helps temper it.

This is astonishing. So sorry you had to go through that, but wow, you are so brave, Martha. So proud of those students, too.

There were 100 allies in Howard County, MD who showed up in support of defending Gender Queer & Lawn Boy from banning in Dec. 2021. The books were retained!

<3

Powerful.

@Jenna- can you share the YouTube link please?

What a cost to pay to uphold the first amendment

Martha, I am sorry that you and your students had to deal with that kind of hate. It honestly scares me how people can justify cruelty in the name of religion, or rather, fanaticism. Of course, those fools would have been against the actual Jesus because he was way too progressive for their small minds.

Thank you for working so strongly on this. You've gone for far too much.

Martha, given that this has taken such a toll on your health and well being, are you able to sue each of the banners?

What a story Martha. Thank you for defending your students!

Stay strong martha. You are valued and what you are doing matters to those kids

Martha, thank you SO MUCH for your wonderful work

Wow, good work. Thank you for sharing your experience and I wish you the best moving forward with this.

@Suzette - I’m on my iPad, so it’ll take me a little bit of time to dig it up. But I’ll find it!

Cool, thanks!

You are all heros

Does Martha have legal recourse against the banners?

Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

4 out of 4 were elected in my county. It's disturbing. So thankful for people like y'all!

Courageous and inspired work Brian, Lisa and Martha!

Martha since library school you have always been and advocate and a strong librarian

Heroes

Hi everyone - if you have questions for today's panelists, please add them to the Q&A, we will do our best to answer a few live today if time allows

As a librarian and mom of a trans man, thank you. Your work keeping this material on shelves is saving lives.

The Get Ready, Stay Ready toolkit is a vital resource to prepare for challenges and protect the right to read https://www.getreadystayready.info

This is the YouTube link for the school board meeting Martha referenced with the high school students speaking up to defend the books: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG-DICu0aFM

Updated olicies are absolutely necessary but there should be community conversations as well.

Great resources available at https://www.ala.org/advocacy/fight-censorship.

Freedom to Read Foundation https://www.ftrf.org/general/register_member_type.asp

The students of the North Hunterdon and Voorhees GSA were honored this past year at NJ’s state librarian conference with the NJLA Intellectual Freedom Award. That board meeting is why.

Letters to the local newspapering Virginia Beach were overwhelmingly supportive of libraries.

If people are faced with these challenges - there is the LeRoy Merritt Humanitarian Fund https://www.ala.org/aboutala/affiliates/relatedgroups/merrittfund/merritthumanitarian

I'd love to see more local/state resources spotlighted on that ALA page... Local activism is where we can make a huge difference

+! @sara. So important!

Everylibrary How We Are Fighting https://www.everylibrary.org/bookbanningfight

The school library supervisor in my former district has been training high school principals on the district's reconsideration policy

Not about the books for sure. About trying to control people.

Please consider donations to help our colleagues facing these challenges

https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/toolkit/

It is always about trying to control people not the books!

https://www.ala.org/advocacy/state-local-resources

Actually, at least in Virginia, it's about defunding public schools and diverting public tax revenue to private schools.

A colleague said the echo chamber is small but it is loud. I reflected on that while responding to complaints about drag queen storytime

If you need direct assistance, that is available to you: https://www.ala.org/aboutala/affiliates/relatedgroups/merrittfund/merritthumanitarian

Great article about flooding meetings w the good guys! https://www.commondreams.org/views/2022/12/14/how-district-took-its-school-board-back-right-wing-reactionaries

You just never get over that kind of thing, Martha. Happened to me at a job a few years ago. It's devastating.

Martha--I understand that all too well and I too am grappling with lack of public support from my administration of 22 years. Hugs to you for all you have been through.

Martha- that is trauma. You need to treat it like that.

👏

This is a lesson on why voting is so important!

Pen America also has resource for protecting yourself against harassment - https://pen.org/librarian-tip-sheet-harassment/

I've noticed a lot of people think "graphic novels" means "porn" 😒

Nominate someone you know who has defended intellectual freedom for the Immroth Award.(deadline extended to March 1).http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2022/10/intellectual-freedom-round-table-ifrt-seeks-nominations-john-phillip-immroth

Build your network now!

Yes Virginia --This conversation is absolutely connected to the erosion of public access, public space, and public education.

Absolutely - the Ecosystem! We all need to stand together and speak with ONE VOICE especially on First Amendment issues.

The personal nature of the attacks is shocking when it happens to you no matter how much you hear about it happening to others. I was afraid not only for myself but my teenage son. I did lock down my social media but still scary stuff.

Readers as leaders! <3

💌 Readers are leaders

Martha's tips to prepare: Self Care, Think Carefully About Social Media and Prepare, Know Your Policies, Seek and Accept Help, Let Readers be Leaders, Never Stop Networking

Knowing comics and picture books are more often challenged, highly recommend the Graphic Novels & Comics Roundtable PD, Preparing for Challenges - How to be ready before you get one webinar in January 18 https://ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_azCokteSSM-SFiVNKd9htA

The Missouri Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom committee has designed a shirt to help defray travel costs for presenting IF workshops around the state. The shirts aren’t state-specific, so they’ll work for anyone anywhere that supports the freedom to read! https://www.customink.com/fundraising/mla-intellectual-freedom

great tips!

Solidarity and community care always!

Peer support is essential!

Thank you all for your stories and your insight.

Yay Otter!!!

They have a playbook for challenging books, and we need to be just as coordinated.

Had a H*locaust survivor visit our public library last year to teach us If you repeat a lie about a non-existing “danger” over and over again, it won’t matter if it’s true. He was warning us about indifference to unchecked hate

Also care and support of your staff

Consider, also, your other allies - for LGBTQ, talk to the closest PFLAG.

Report censorship efforts to OIF here: https://www.ala.org/advocacy/fight-censorship or by emailing me directly at estroshane@ala.org

Thank you all for your amazing work!

Thank you so much!

Thank all of you for sharing.

Thank you so much for sharing these stories and for your work! Powerful!

Thank you!

Thank you!!!

Thank you all!

Thank you Brian, Martha and Lisa!

Thank you all so much! Keep up going strong!

Thank you!

Thank you all!

Thank you all for your expertise and input!

Thank you!

Thank you all, you all rock.

Thank you so very much!

Thank you!

Great information. Thanks to all for your advocacy!

Thank you all for sharing those harrowing but powerful stories. We all needed to hear them.

Thank you all for your valor! Inspiring.

Thanks so much to the 3 presenters for sharing their stories. Great advice at the end.

👏

Thank you!

This was wonderful!

Thank you!

Thank you all!

thank you all for your courage

Thank you so much!

Thank you

Thank you all!

Thanks for courage & intelligence & humanity

Thank you so much!

Deeply grateful for your heroic efforts, personal and professional risk taking. Spreading the word!

learn about the Merritt Fund: https://www.ala.org/aboutala/affiliates/relatedgroups/merrittfund/merritthumanitarian

Thanks also for sharing what has and can keep you going on a personal level.

Use the map below (link) to find book bans in counties/states https://redwine.blue/bbb/

ALA is calling on Congress to include three things in the FY 2023 spending bill: https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=18455

Is this webinar going to be uploaded on YouTube or Connect Live or eLearning?

Hi there -it will be loaded on our ALA Connect Live web page: https://www.ala.org/membership/ala-connect-live-series

Right to Read Act https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/9056?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%22%5D%7D&s=1&r=1

Chilling

Horrifying

You got that right!

ALA has adopted a protocol to respond to library issues at the state and local level:https://www.ala.org/advocacy/state-and-local-protocol

I predict these bills to be written vaguely enough for “parents rights” groups to take full advantage of

Subscribe to ALA’s advocacy alerts to take targeted actions at key moments on federal policy: https://confirmsubscription.com/h/i/463208600EB4D89A

Follow us on twitter: https://twitter.com/LibraryPolicyJoin the Unite Against Book Bans Campaign: https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/

Defend Every Student’s Right to Learn https://action.aclu.org/petition/defend-every-students-right-learn

Join us at LibLearnX: https://www.2023.alaliblearnx.org/

Are there any events located in Washington, D.C. in 2023 yet?

1559716762

LibLearnX: https://www.2023.alaliblearnx.org/Library Workers: Organize and ActivateSunday, January 29: 8:30am - 9:45amhttps://www.2023.alaliblearnx.org/library-workers-organize-and-activate• Intersectional Justice in Libraries Topics on mental health and wellness and intellectual freedom and advocacyCenter for the Future of Libraries https://www.eventscribe.net/2023/LibLearnX/aaStatic.asp?SFP=VldORkRGQkJAMTM1NDdATExYMjMgQ2Z0Rm9MIFNlc3Npb25zIntellectual Freedom Programs like• Building a Practical Toolkit for Censorship and Challenges at your Public Library 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM https://www.eventscribe.net/2023/LibLearnX/searchGlobal.aspThe Intellectual Freedom Syllabus Shop talkMonday, January 30, 202310:10 AM – 10:30 AMhttps://www.eventscribe.net/2023/LibLearnX/searchGlobal.asp

Bigger principle of the First Amendment. Will remember that!

This has been a great collaboration of networking and information sharing for this topic...thank you to each of you for taking the time to share your experiences and resources.

and what is "harmful to minors" and what is "age appropriate"? So many broad terms that vary so much from individual to individual and family to family.

Make sure you have books that the concerned staff member wants, that you aren't neglecting theat point of view.

Our local association is also hosting PD about De-escalation: A Crucial Tool in Libraries for Promoting Intellectual Freedom - frontline library workers need to be supported, empowered, and cared for https://www.carli.illinois.edu/pda-event-de-escalation-crucial-tool-libraries-promoting-intellectual-freedom

Crucial point, Brian!

Yes. Freedom to Read for everyone

Thank you Lessa, Ed, Alan, Lesliediana, Lisa, Martha & Brian!

Make sure you have a display policy!

love the book sanctuary idea, thank you Martha, you are an inspiration

Can you link to a good display policy?

Review all your current policies

I’ll take to my local library about a display policy

I agree Brian!

Our library has a library-initiated program and display policy. www.cranstonlibrary.org/policies

Martha's book sanctuary sign on Canva https://www.canva.com/design/DAFUwK7_ODg/BHkdGb-ieqyTdzjFTF0Kfg/view?utm_content=DAFUwK7_ODg&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink&mode=preview

How do we fight book bans if we’re not employed or certified or hold no professional position yet?

Remember that there are policy fundamentals available online at www.ala.org//tools/challenge support/selectionpolicytoolkit

Brian, thank you for sharing that story. <3

Thank you, Brian!

Thank you Brian

Thank you!

Martha's Join the Read-Sistance sign on Canva: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFUwmSw6vg/x373yFwofbKjIVH2LquMUA/view?utm_content=DAFUwmSw6vg&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink&mode=preview

It was a pleasure for me to talk with Brian, Lisa and Martha. I feel honored.

Thank you!

@J. Sylvia, speak up at board meetings and write letters to the editor

I found this book helpful with developing policeshttps://www.amazon.com/Creating-Policies-Results-Chaos-Clarity/dp/0838935354

Thank you!

Thank you to all!

Very grateful for this discussion, thank you!

Hi Sandra

Thank you all so much

thank you everyone for taking time out of your day to be here!

Thank you @LR

🌈 Thank you all and thanks for the conversation space.

thank you martha!

Thank you to everyone. Fantastic information.

Thank you for sharing your experiences. So much bravery! You are inspiring.

THank you all!

Thank you!

Thank you!!

What do you all think about people who claim children are "too young" to learn about lgbtqia+ themes? In truth, I think they just don't want it normalized.

Thank you all!

Thank you

Thank you everyone!

Thanks everyone.

Thanks to you all!

Thank you, so inspiring

Thank you all so much!

thank you so much!

thank you so much!!

<3

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you all!

Thank you so much, I appreciate all of you!!

Thank you all, so much!

Thank you!!!

Thank you all!

Thank you all

Thank you all for your bravery and dedication to librarianship!

Thank you all, and ALA Prez/prez elect

Thank you!

Thank you everyone!

Yes thank you for doing what you do everyone!

Thank you!

Wonderful speakers! Thanks so much.

Thank you everyone!

Thank you all!

Thanks to speakers for courage, stories & analysis and thanks to the chat for links & info

Thank you!!!

Thank you, everyone!

Thank you ALL.

Thank you

Thank you all!

Thanks!

Profiles in Courage! Thank You!!

Thank you everyone!!!

Thank you

Join the Unite Against Book Bans Campaign: https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/Dealing with censorship challenges or need to get prepared for them? https://www.ala.org/advocacy/fight-censorship?utm_source=ala&utm_medium=topbanner&utm_campaign=redesign

👏

Thank you for this meeting. Networking.

All of these presenters are superstars! 🤩

Thank you so much

Thank you! This was amazing to hear the stories and get the resources

Thank you!

Join the Unite Against Book Bans Campaign: https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/Dealing with censorship challenges or need to get prepared for them? https://www.ala.org/advocacy/fight-censorship

In this work together!

Thank you all for your stories and perspectives!

insane stories today. Keep up the good work

Thanks!

Thanks all!

Thanks so much for this excellent information!

👏

Thank you.

Thank you!

Thank you all!

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

thank you!

This was great!