[Michlib-l] First Amendment Audit

Wed Jan 12 12:43:21 EST 2022

The Hillsdale Community Library had these “auditors” stop in, we were very boring and still made the cut for the City of Hillsdale final video. I have no idea why we made the cut. In the video, they filmed our patron policies and called us tyrants. They followed me when I stepped onto the floor to try and find our volunteer and pull him into the back. Since our volunteer has autism, I was only concerned to protect him. We have a wall called “The Freedom Wall” and it has the entire constitution framed and displayed, it was a donation awhile back, they made a comment about that, which was not positive either. I did not think we would make the cut, but we did. So, I would say even if you are “boring” you can still be put in the video. I was yelled at and told that our policies are from a non-governing body… he went on but I didn’t listen because I was just trying to walk off the floor and honestly could have cared less why he was yelling at me. I know in the comments of our video they claimed I said “I’m calling my mom and reporting this!”. I am sure it was referring to my age, since I am younger, but I can guarantee you that thought never crossed my mind.

To answer your question Jessica, we also had a negative experience, not to your extreme, but it wasn’t pleasant.
Best,
Bryonna Barton, MLIS
Hillsdale Community Library
Library Director
director at hillsdale-library.org<mailto:director at hillsdale-library.org>
11 E. Bacon St
Hillsdale MI 49242
Main: 517.437.6470
Director: 517.437.6472

From: Michlib-l <michlib-l-bounces at mcls.org> On Behalf Of Jessica Holman via Michlib-l
Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2022 12:08 PM
To: Lisa Waskin <lwaskin at superiordistrictlibrary.org>
Cc: Steven K. Bowers <sbowers at tln.lib.mi.us>; MichLib-L Listserv <michlib-l at mail2.mcls.org>
Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] First Amendment Audit

Out of curiosity, is the Negaunee City Hall and Public Library the only place that has had a really negative experience with an alleged First Amendment Auditor?

Are we seriously the only place that has had a staff member that was called a "fucking bitch" because we're offering curbside services and did not let him inside? Is the billing clerk from Negaunee City Hall the only person who has been followed to her car by one of these people - where he filmed and recited her license plate number, and the make, model, and color of her car?

Maybe our "auditor" was just unique, and they're normally pleasant people?

Jessica Holman
Library Director
Negaunee Public Library
319 West Case Street
Negaunee, MI 49866
(906) 475-7700 ext. 18

she/her/hers

On Wed, Jan 12, 2022 at 11:53 AM Lisa Waskin via Michlib-l <michlib-l at mcls.org<mailto:michlib-l at mcls.org>> wrote:
Exactly this Steve.  They want fodder for their videos.  Don't give them anything interesting to share online, and they will most likely go away.

-----Original Message-----
From: Michlib-l [mailto:michlib-l-bounces at mcls.org<mailto:michlib-l-bounces at mcls.org>] On Behalf Of Steven K. Bowers via Michlib-l
Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2022 10:52 AM
To: MichLib-L Listserv <michlib-l at mail2.mcls.org<mailto:michlib-l at mail2.mcls.org>>
Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] First Amendment Audit

The Library of Michigan overview on 1st Amendment Audits was great:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVjKMtoMdp8

Gives you a good background on what they are and how to deal with them. The key is to be real calm and basically not get riled up so that they are not interested and leave quickly.

Hope that helps.

-Steve

Steven K. Bowers
Executive Director
The Library Network
(248) 536-3100 x107
sbowers at tln.lib.mi.us<mailto:sbowers at tln.lib.mi.us>
www.tln.org/<http://www.tln.org/>
(he/him/his)

----- Original Message -----
From: "michlib-l at mcls.org<mailto:michlib-l at mcls.org>" <michlib-l at mcls.org<mailto:michlib-l at mcls.org>>
To: "Steven Kish" <skish at ltu.edu<mailto:skish at ltu.edu>>
Cc: "frudir" <frudir at llcoop.org<mailto:frudir at llcoop.org>>, "michlib-l at mcls.org<mailto:michlib-l at mcls.org>" <Michlib-l at mcls.org<mailto: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<mailto:michlib-l at mcls.org>>
To: SF Director Account <frudir at llcoop.org<mailto:frudir at llcoop.org>>
Cc: michlib-l <Michlib-l at mcls.org<mailto: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<mailto: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<mailto:michlib-l at mcls.org>>
> *To: *"michlib-l" <michlib-l at mcls.org<mailto: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<mailto:p.saunders at woodlands.lib.mi.us>
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>
> *Brighten the corner where you are.*
>
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> --
> Matt Lubbers-Moore, Director
> Fruitport District Library
> (231) 366-6107
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--

*Steven Kish*

*Reference LibrarianLawrence Technological University Library*

*Email <library at ltu.edu<mailto:library at ltu.edu>>, call <2482043000>or 24/7 chat with <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__libguides.ltu.edu_247help&d=DwICAg&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=1EE0AJJXmcChMmY3NQmVorz8hJsAzpJPbIk7yFfP8C0&m=hAt631OieeYYHQrVpg5A2J6BPrUbcsbc0PDTgTSb9AQ&s=-uOEmtT2_zIKJbJwWYt8ao5D3H8xBeX3MFhNkKDvrjw&e=> the LTU Library (fastest)* *Direct email: skish at ltu.edu<mailto:skish at ltu.edu> <skish at ltu.edu<mailto:skish at ltu.edu>> (will reply my next scheduled
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--
Jessica Holman
Library Director
Negaunee Public Library
319 West Case Street
Negaunee, MI 49866
(906) 475-7700 ext. 18

she/her/hers

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