[Michlib-l] First Amendment Audit

Wed Jan 12 10:43:32 EST 2022

This is a complicated issue with a host of legal concerns, but in my
opinion these "audits" aren't true audits. This is an individual (a social
media "influencer" if you will) who is mining public spaces for free
content he can monetize for his personal benefit, and the goal here (for
us) is to* not *provide that content to him. The best way to do that is to
be as non-confrontational as you can while protecting the rights of your
patrons and staff. Boring video footage does not get aired/posted to the
channel. You want to be boring. He will look for opportunities to escalate
the situation to capture YouTube-worthy video.

On Wed, Jan 12, 2022 at 10:34 AM AD Jeffrey Babbitt via Michlib-l <
michlib-l at mcls.org> wrote:

> It would make for a fascinating and helpful discussion. I'm not very
> familiar with FRICN MEDIA, but was under the impression it was just a guy
> with a YouTube channel, which is how everything seems to start in the
> digital age. As a new director with little to no experience with auditors,
> I would appreciate hearing more about this from more experienced
> administrators. At any rate, a First Amendment Audit is a deeply
> interesting idea, public sector or no.
>
> Jeffrey Babbitt, MLIS
> Director
> Dorr Township Library
> 1804 Sunset Dr.
> Dorr, MI 49323
> 616-681-9678 (o)
> 269-598-6929 (m)
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "OJ Amber Mclain via Michlib-l" <michlib-l at mcls.org>
> To: "Steven Kish" <skish at ltu.edu>
> Cc: "SF Director Account" <frudir at llcoop.org>, "michlib-l" <
> Michlib-l at mcls.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2022 10:02:14 AM
> Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] First Amendment Audit
>
> Perhaps this is something we should discuss at the director's meeting on
> friday.
>
> Amber McLain Library Director, Patmos Library
> (she/hers/hers)
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Steven Kish via Michlib-l <michlib-l at mcls.org>
> To: SF Director Account <frudir at llcoop.org>
> Cc: michlib-l <Michlib-l at mcls.org>
> Sent: Wed, 12 Jan 2022 09:52:26 -0500 (EST)
> Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] First Amendment Audit
>
> I am curious if there is a governing body for these and who they are.
>
> As a former bank manager, I am not unfamiliar with being audited but there
> was always a governing body (either the bank itself or an official
> governmental body like the Office of the Comptroller of Currency) that was
> executing an audit for regulatory purposes. I am all for protecting patron
> privacy, but there is also an employee privacy issue to consider if an
> ungoverned third party is allowed unobstructed access to back of house
> operations. My employees were aware that there were cameras everywhere (it
> was a bank, after all) but we also knew for certain who had access to the
> images captured on those cameras and what they were used for.
>
> As for looking for certain items in a collection... it is the library's job
> to audit the collection, not some third party. There is a method and a
> process. I would have asked what data the auditors were using to determine
> that the requested item should be part of the collection. I would have also
> asked them both for ID, contact information and recorded it and asked them
> to clear it with the library's legal team before letting them access the
> facility.
>
> My two cents.
>
> Steven
>
> PS. Please be mindful that all MichLib emails are recorded and Google
> searchable when replying to this post.
>
>
> On Wed, Jan 12, 2022 at 9:38 AM SF Director Account via Michlib-l <
> michlib-l at mcls.org> wrote:
>
> > Good morning,
> >
> > I have never heard of this. Why is the *U.S. Constitution for Dummies* a
> > book they would ask about? Is there a process or procedure for how
> > libraries should act or react to this group? You mention being respectful
> > but anything else?
> >
> > Any assistance in this for me to inform my staff would very helpful.
> >
> > Matt Lubbers-Moore
> >
> > ------------------------------
> > *From: *"Perri Saunders via Michlib-l" <michlib-l at mcls.org>
> > *To: *"michlib-l" <michlib-l at mcls.org>
> > *Sent: *Tuesday, January 11, 2022 1:28:09 PM
> > *Subject: *[Michlib-l] First Amendment Audit
> >
> > Just had our first First Amendment Audit.  It went very well, actually.
> >
> > I spotted them before they came in so we could gather ourselves for a
> > minute - make sure no patron names were on screens, and the reserve shelf
> > had no names showing, etc.
> > Two people (man and woman) came in with cameras.  I welcomed them from
> the
> > circ desk as I would anyone else (maybe a *little* more
> > enthusiastically).  The man asked if we had the U.S. Constitution for
> > Dummies and we talked about that a little.
> >
> > I offered to show them around, but they just wanted to walk around and
> > film.  We only had one patron in here at the time, so when the man
> started
> > that way, I just told him that he was welcome to film anywhere in the
> > public areas as long as he didn't interfere with other patrons' enjoyment
> > of the library.
> >
> > We were respectful and, in turn, they were respectful, so it went just
> > fine.  They were here for about 15 minutes.  I won't lie - it felt like
> > longer.
> >
> > I know that this man, FRICN MEDIA, has lots of 1st Amendment Audit videos
> > on YouTube,  many of which turned confrontational.  We were welcoming,
> > forthcoming, and really boring.  Score!
> >
> > Like Kate Andrade said, "It's not if, it's when".  We might as well be
> > prepared.
> >
> > Have a great day!
> > Perri
> >
> > --
> > Perri Saunders, Director
> > White Pigeon Township Library
> > 102 N. Kalamazoo St., P.O. Box 399
> > White Pigeon, MI 49099
> > 269-483-7409
> > *p.saunders at woodlands.lib.mi.us <p.saunders at woodlands.lib.mi.us> *
> >
> > *Brighten the corner where you are.*
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Michlib-l mailing list
> > Michlib-l at mcls.org
> > https://mail3.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l
> >
> > --
> > Matt Lubbers-Moore, Director
> > Fruitport District Library
> > (231) 366-6107
> > www.fruitportdistrictlibrary.org
> > _______________________________________________
> > Michlib-l mailing list
> > Michlib-l at mcls.org
> > https://mail3.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l
> >
>
>
> --
>
>
> *Steven Kish*
>
>
> *Reference LibrarianLawrence Technological University Library*
>
> *Email <library at ltu.edu>, call <2482043000>or 24/7 chat with
> <https://libguides.ltu.edu/247help> the LTU Library (fastest)*
> *Direct email: skish at ltu.edu <skish at ltu.edu> (will reply my next scheduled
> shift)*
>
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-- 
Tamara Denby
Clinton Township Public Library - Lenawee
A Universe of discoveries at your fingertips
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