[Michlib-l] Book banning and employment contracts

[Amy Churchill]

This is so helpful.  This is something I have started exploring as an
option for my employment contract as well and didn't know where to start.
Thank you for helping us all!  I will not let a single person or group
steal my joy at having one of the best jobs in the world and I intend to go
down swinging.  I can clearly see that the next effort here after book
banning attempts have been shot down by my current board will be long term
efforts to change the makeup of my board.
Amy Churchill
Library Director
Lapeer District Library "Where your story begins"
201 Village West Dr South
Lapeer, MI 48446
achurchill at lib.lapeer.org
library.lapeer.org
810.664.9521 ext 3113


On Mon, Mar 6, 2023 at 11:33 AM Lance Werner via Michlib-l <
michlib-l at mcls.org> wrote:

> Good morning!
>
>
>
> We have been dealing with a tidal wave of book challenges. I have held off
> efforts (through my political connections) to place book banning advocates
> on the Kent District Library (KDL) Board of Trustees. Unfortunately, I am
> sure it is only a matter of time before we have book banning advocates on
> our board. I have been training everyone internally and throughout Michigan
> on effectively addressing book bans. I have a leg up. I am an attorney with
> a special emphasis on library law.
>
>
>
> One of my goals is to do everything that I can to hinder book banning
> efforts throughout the state. It is the most important work of my career.
> As a means to that end, it occurred to me that bad behavior requires stiff
> consequences. I am in favor of hitting the opposition in the pocket book. I
> theorize that many of the book banning advocates are also on the cheap
> side. In fact, it has been my experience in West Michigan that cheap trumps
> (no pun intended) bigotry. So I have modified, and more importantly the KDL
> Board has modified, my employment contract.
>
>
>
> My contract now says that if I should get fired for refusing to comply
> with an unconstitutional book banning request or anything else that is
> unconstitutional, I will receive treble severance. It will amount to four
> years of severance to be paid out in a lump sum. It will also create
> negative media for the book banning advocates and will draw attention to
> the issue. It is meant as a deterrent. I have the same employment clauses
> in place for the entire leadership team. Our collection development and
> programming departments are protected by the union.
>
>
>
> The idea is to make bad decisions and actions extremely expensive. It is
> an insurance policy and I can fearlessly fight for our constitutional
> rights. As can the leadership team.
>
>
>
> I have attached the applicable sections for your information and hopefully
> use. The lowest level of behavior we accept is the highest we can expect
> and require. This issue will continue unless we fight for every millimeter.
> Anything that we lose will be gone.
>
>
>
> Good luck my friends,
>
>
>
> Lance Werner
>
> Executive Director
>
> Kent District Library
>
>
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