<div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal">Hello all,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A reminder that the
ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee is seeking feedback from
the library community on a revised draft of the meeting rooms
interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights. Please
see below for more information and a link to the draft on Google Docs
with instructions for leaving feedback in the comments.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you very much!</p><p><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">______________________________________________________________<br></span></p><p><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">In
July 2018, the Intellectual Freedom Committee formed a working group
that brought multiple voices and a broad range of perspectives together,
including representatives from the diversity
community, to revise "Meeting Rooms: An Interpretation of the <i>Library Bill of Rights</i>,"
adopted by ALA Council at ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans. In
August, Council voted to rescind the interpretation, restoring the 1991
version; however, work
on a more up-to-date revision continued. The working group distributed a
Google Form for suggestions on language and resources to include in the
revised draft.
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">The working group collected feedback and suggested edits and took them into consideration.
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">The
Intellectual Freedom Committee would appreciate feedback from the
library community on this draft. ALA members and non-members alike are
invited to provide feedback on the draft interpretation
by <b>September 14, 2018</b>. Feedback can be posted in the following two ways:</span></p>
<ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal">
Use this <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S5dAwURmbnO7qgXIAzoEimQ4BZyVjTwgC4EAXe8sqlc/edit?usp=sharing" title="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S5dAwURmbnO7qgXIAzoEimQ4BZyVjTwgC4EAXe8sqlc/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">
Google doc</a> to post your comments. The working group requests that
you ONLY post comments on this document, and not edit the document
directly. To post a comment, select "Insert" in the top menu, and then
click "Comment." Comments may be posted anonymously
(if you're not signed into a Google account) or publicly (if you're
signed into your Google account).
</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt">
Post suggestions to this ALA Connect post, either as a comment or by
attaching a "track changes" version of the provided Word document.
</li></ul>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Please
share this document widely. After the deadline, the working group will
review comments and revise the document further. It plans to submit the
draft to ALA Council no later than October
1, 2018. The committee also plans to publish a Q&A on meeting
rooms, addressing specific questions brought up in discussions and
feedback from the library community; this Q&A will be drafted after
October 1.
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Below
are resources and references that will be included at the bottom of the
web version of the Council-approved interpretation. Although this
section - titled "See Also" - is not part of the
proposed interpretation and is not adopted by ALA Council, the working
group invites suggestions on additional resources that readers may find
helpful:</span></p>
<ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal">
For a statement of the Association's belief that libraries should be welcoming places for users and workers: "<a href="http://www.ala.org/aboutala/sites/ala.org.aboutala/files/content/governance/council/council_documents/2017_annual/cd_44-44.2_cod_62617_FINAL.pdf" title="http://www.ala.org/aboutala/sites/ala.org.aboutala/files/content/governance/council/council_documents/2017_annual/cd_44-44.2_cod_62617_FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">Resolution
on Libraries as Responsible Spaces</a>," Committee on Diversity, June 2017.</li><li class="MsoNormal">
For legal and ethical context concerning the use of library spaces by religious groups: "<a href="http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/religionFAQ" title="http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/religionFAQ" target="_blank">Religion in American Libraries: Question and Answers</a>,"
Intellectual Freedom Committee, 2010.</li><li class="MsoNormal">
For guidelines and context concerning controversial speakers: "<a href="http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/controversialprogramsqa" title="http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/controversialprogramsqa" target="_blank">Responding to and Preparing for Controversial Program
and Speakers Q&A</a>," Intellectual Freedom Committee, June 2018.</li><li class="MsoNormal">
For legal context on hate speech, hate crimes, and libraries: "<a href="http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/hate" title="http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/hate" target="_blank">Hate Speech and Hate Crime</a>," ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, December 2017.</li><li class="MsoNormal">
For information about political activity in libraries: "<a href="http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/politics" title="http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/politics" target="_blank">Politics in American Libraries:
An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights</a>," adopted June 27, 2017, by the ALA Council.</li></ul>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Thank you for your feedback, and please let me know if you have any questions.<br>
<br>
------------------------------<br>
Julia Warga, Chair<br>
Intellectual Freedom Committee<br>
------------------------------</span></p><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><span><div><div dir="ltr"><font size="1">Danielle Jones</font><div><font size="1"><i>Oregon Library Association ALA Chapter Councilor</i></font><br></div><div><font size="1"><i>Teen and youth librarian at Multnomah County Library</i></font></div><div><font size="1"><i>My pronouns are she, her, hers</i></font></div></div></div></span></div></div></div>