In response to needs identified by a recent survey done in collaboration with Courthouse Libraries BC (February 2024), BCLA is offering a series that highlights practical resources and tools related to intellectual freedom, including public challenges to library collections and library programming that may result in public protest.
These sessions are intended to provide practical tools from leading experts for our intended audience, which is anyone who works in a library setting and would like to develop confidence when handling challenging situations with patrons of diverse views through an awareness of vetted resources. We anticipate future opportunities for dialogue through the work of BCLA’s Intellectual Freedom Committee, but these sessions will be focused on the practical, to bolster your library with consistent practices.
- Session 1: Practical Tools & Resources for Intellectual Freedom, offered in partnership with the Centre for Free Expression
- Session 2: From Hate to Hope, offered in partnership with the Office of the BC Human Rights Commissioner
- Session 3: Legal Resources for Libraries Facing Public Challenges, offered in partnership with Courthouse Libraries BC and Lawyer Adrienne Smith
If you have any accessibility needs to attend these sessions, please contact Natalie Porter, BCLA Professional Development Coordinator in advance and BCLA will do our best to support you.
Session 1: Practical Tools and Resources for Intellectual Freedom
This session is offered in partnership with the Centre for Free Expression
- Thursday, June 27th at 1pm-2:30pm on Zoom.
- Dr. James Turk will provide a walk through and demonstration of the Centre for Free Expression databases, including the Canadian Library Challenges database and Library Policies database, among other resources to build our collective knowledge and operate as a library community when facing public challenges to our collections and programs.
- Have you ever wanted to know what challenges other libraries have had, or examples of collection policies in other institutions? This session is for you! Plus, you’ll learn how you can contribute your experiences to these databases, and hear about further training offered by CFE.
Session 2: From Hate to Hope
This session is offered in partnership with the BC Human Rights Commissioner
- TBD
- Participants will gain an understanding of what hate speech is by law, the work of the BC Human Rights Commissioner to condemn hate speech, and what resources are available to librarians when addressing hate speech within their space and beyond.
- Registration coming soon.
Session 3: Legal Resources for Libraries Facing Public Challenges
This session is offered in partnership with Courthouse Libraries BC and Lawyer Adrienne Smith
- Thursday, July 11th at 3pm-4:30pm (90 minutes) on Zoom
- Adrienne Smith (they/them/lel) is a transgender human rights activist and social justice lawyer who will provide practical legal resources for BC libraries as they manage challenges from within their community.
- The session will address deciphering “legal-eze” that certain groups use to bolster their views, an understanding of legal boundaries around scenes of protest and how to address them, and a basic awareness of job protection rights and resources.
- In addition, staff from Courthouse Libraries BC are developing a toolkit to further solidify these law-related resources, with a reminder of self-care as these challenges can feel personal.
