[Michlib-l] First Amendment Audit

Fri Jan 14 13:41:23 EST 2022

I'm not sure legitimate concerns within this thread can be fairly whittled
down to "name calling, belly aching, and misunderstanding". While our role
as public servants requires a great deal of personal sacrifice and
professional pride-swallowing, it is a privileged position to presume that
someone pointing a camera in your face *without your permission* and
refusing to explain their actions is somehow meaningless or
non-threatening. These aren't middle schoolers hoping for a good chuckle,
these are adult cis white males with domineering, presumptive attitudes.
Those of us who've lived our whole lives, personal and professional, under
such a microscope quake with reasonable fear upon sight of such arrogance
as to *point a camera in someone's face with zero consent or even the
barest conversation.*

This isn't a "develop a thicker skin" kind of situation. This is serious
business. And I don't believe it is fair for any professional within our
library landscape to belittle legitimate fear-mongering.

Thank you,
*Toni Lea Isom (they/them/theirs)*
Youth Services Librarian Assistant
Adrian District Library
143 East Maumee Street
Adrian MI 49221
tisom at adrian.lib.mi.us

On Fri, Jan 14, 2022 at 1:25 PM Phillip J Kwik via Michlib-l <
michlib-l at mcls.org> wrote:

> Well said, Betty. Thank you for your reasoned words.
>
>
>
> The amount of name calling, belly aching, and misunderstanding of “public”
> in public library on this post is outrageous for our profession.
>
>
>
> Phillip Kwik
>
>
>
> [image:
> /var/folders/c4/pn04drv965q2qlqx52sjgnvdhktm0j/T/com.microsoft.Outlook/WebArchiveCopyPasteTempFiles/cidimage001.png at 01D4C2D2.9B24D4F0]
> <https://troypl.org/>
>
> *Phillip Kwik | Assistant Director, Library*
>
> 510 W Big Beaver
>
> Troy, Michigan 48084
>
> 248.619.7577
>
> [image:
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> <https://www.facebook.com/troylib/> [image:
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> <https://www.instagram.com/troylib/> [image:
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> <https://twitter.com/troylib>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Michlib-l <michlib-l-bounces at mcls.org> *On Behalf Of *Betty Adams
> via Michlib-l
> *Sent:* Friday, January 14, 2022 1:10 PM
> *To:* Turbok, Joseph <jturbok at sccl.lib.mi.us>
> *Cc:* michlib-l at mcls.org
> *Subject:* Re: [Michlib-l] First Amendment Audit
>
>
>
> *CAUTION:* This email did not originate from within the City of Troy. Do
> not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and
> know the content is safe.
>
>
>
> Thoughts you can choose to digest or ignore:
>
>
>
> Being a public institution, consent is not needed to be filmed. Being a
> public servant, consent is not needed to be filmed while serving
> the public. Being a public servant, these audits should be taken seriously,
> as they are (at the core) being done by concerned patrons. If you are part
> of a consortium, they may be your patrons even if they are not from your
> city or generally considered community, as you are part of a collective.
> These should not be something to be feared, nor fought. The money we use is
> paid by taxes of citizens, and it is their right to inquire about policies,
> how the library is governed, the collection, and if the staff is aware of
> the rights of citizens in their libraries. Use this as an opportunity to
> listen to those who (it appears) you may have a difference of opinion from,
> rather than an attack on the library or you/your staff. Yes, these citizens
> sometimes try to "catch" you being scared or intimidated, or ignorant to
> their rights, because when these first started years ago, many facilities
> were. Get ahead of the auditors and take time to understand their purpose,
> review if your collection needs around constitutional/governmental
> materials and train staff on the rights of patrons/citizens in a public
> space. Heck, you could even have a program on citizen rights in public and
> private spaces and can show the auditors that you are aware of their
> concerns and are addressing them.
>
>
>
> I personally would interact with an auditor, to know how the library is
> perceived by those who have concerns over their rights in a time when
> rights are being reduced by governing bodies. Why not request to sit and
> have a conversation with them rather than shy away? They want to be heard,
> same as everyone else with concerns, so, why not listen? By being negative
> toward them (even if it's only in internal emails), you are being negative
> toward an entire demographic that your library may be excluding (or
> ridiculing), based on perception alone, which is counterintuitive to an
> institution that wishes to have full community support and usage.
>
>
>
> Now, I would like to say, nothing is ever absolute, and those who had a
> negative experience with a hostile audit, is not the norm (as showcased in
> this thread and across the internet). Do not assume your auditor will be
> hostile, just as you wouldn't assume the intention of any other patron
> entering your facility.
>
>
>
> Just some thoughts from someone who's watched MANY audit videos, from
> across the country, and someone who can recognize that they have a right to
> do what they do. (If being filmed is an issue for you, as it is with me,
> politely request not to have your face included. Use honey, not vinegar.)
>
>
>
> Public school audits is a great question, personally, I haven't seen any
> done.
>
>
>
> Betty
>
>
>
> On Fri, Jan 14, 2022 at 10:05 AM Turbok, Joseph via Michlib-l <
> michlib-l at mcls.org> wrote:
>
> I am not that familiar with Youtube flagging but can these videos possibly
> be flagged by the people within them for either harassment or lack of
> consent to be filmed?
>
>
>
> *From:* Michlib-l [mailto:michlib-l-bounces at mcls.org] *On Behalf Of *Christopher
> Nadeau via Michlib-l
> *Sent:* Friday, January 14, 2022 9:02 AM
> *To:* Bill Wines; Sherry Martin
> *Cc:* SF Director Account; michlib-l
> *Subject:* Re: [Michlib-l] First Amendment Audit
>
>
>
> *EMAIL ORIGIN EXTERNAL:* Use proper judgment and caution when opening
> attachments, clicking links, or responding to this email.
>
> Matt,
>
>
>
> They request that book because if library staff tries to argue with them
> or kick them out, the “auditor” can point out that we are ignorant of the
> Constitution yet have the book on our shelves. Having suffered through some
> of the YouTube messages, they seem to take a special delight in mentioning
> this. Also, they audit us done under the guise of “educating” us about
> individuals rights.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Bill Wines <bwines at commercelibrary.info>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 12, 2022 11:51 AM
> *To:* Sherry Martin <MartinS at gpschools.org>
> *Cc:* SF Director Account <frudir at llcoop.org>; michlib-l <
> michlib-l at mcls.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [Michlib-l] First Amendment Audit
>
>
>
> "Members only" videos and a PayPal link.  I wonder how much this jamoke
> makes from this scam?
>
>
>
> On Wed, Jan 12, 2022 at 9:54 AM Sherry Martin via Michlib-l <
> michlib-l at mcls.org> wrote:
>
> I Googled  "FRICN MEDIA" (I'm assuming this stands for Freaking Media)
> and found their YouTube channel. This isn't a professional organization.
> It's a couple of Michigan citizens checking up on various government
> agencies.
>
>
>
> https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYl7s-1p4ba4dgcAZidNFGw
>
>
>
> On their About tab:
>
> DescriptionWarning. Im controversial politically, religiously, and I'm
> also an Auditor. So if you're offended easily or closed minded. This is not
> the channel for you. Just a heads up. email vividimagetats420 at gmail.com
> paypal.me/jswoodworks Cash app $FRICNMEDIA
>
>
>
> The world we live in!
>
>
>
> Sherry Martin
>
>
>
> On Wed, Jan 12, 2022 at 9:40 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.*
>
>
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>
>
>
> --
>
> 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
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> *Sherry Martin, MLIS*
>
> Media Specialist at Brownell and Pierce Middle Schools
>
>
>
> [image: Image removed by sender.]
>
> *Grosse Pointe Public School System  *
>
> www.gpschools.org
>
> Phone: 313-432-4117
>
> Email: martins at gpschools.org
>
>
>
> *Our Mission:* Cultivate Educational Excellence By:
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>
>
> --
>
> Bill Wines
>
> Circulation & Technical Services Manager
>
> Commerce Township Community Library
>
> 180 E. Commerce Rd.
> Commerce Twp., MI 48382
> Ph. 248.669.8108 ext.102
>
> Fax 248.325.5047
>
>
>
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>
>
>
> --
>
>
>
> -Betty Adams
>
>
>
> Library Director
>
> Leanna Hicks Public Library of Inkster, MI
>
> badams at inksterlibrary.org
>
>
>
> Adult Services Committee Chair
>
> The Library Network
>
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>
> Main Coordinator
>
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>
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>
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>
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