[Michlib-l] Book banning and employment contracts

[Lance Werner]

Great point!!!

From: Kristin.LaLonde at mymichigan.org <Kristin.LaLonde at mymichigan.org>
Sent: Monday, March 6, 2023 11:43 AM
To: Lance Werner <LWerner at kdl.org>
Cc: michlib-l at mcls.org
Subject: RE: Book banning and employment contracts

Please Note: MidMichigan Health is now MyMichigan Health. Email will be sent from @https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fmymichigan.org&c=E,1,xFnqkIrJY92lB6L9Ysy94pv0iIIDoKQaaOOgPhsOv5necYvQEzzA219INNPOzT5N9BT_biQyOUwUjORxA_X0EJbMMe1-ZBHPn7CwV1WFnVN7uN0OBMOOjvHxR5Pj&typo=1<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fmymichigan.org&c=E,1,AAQczTEx10Bfeohp3kG6bceZOuWyOaGiU4F2W1H2d7M7vdfNjd5VLm9yaFySHJHeXATgpdY1WXfL_ZKpZZP-vWpHjgDDrp3rPKART_1llWnJkwOJ&typo=1&ancr_add=1> Please update your inbox rules to ensure deliverability.

I'd like to echo Lance's concerns and I'd like to add that librarians who live somewhere where they are not working should think about trying to get on the library board of their town. More librarians in local politics please.

Kristin LaLonde, MLIS, AHIP
Health Sciences Library Manager
MyMichigan Health
4005 Orchard Drive
Midland, Michigan 48670
Phone (Midland) (989) 839-3262
Phone (Gratiot) (989) 466-7047
kristin.lalonde at mymichigan.org<mailto:kristin.lalonde at mymichigan.org>

[qtlxzfzf]

From: Michlib-l [mailto:michlib-l-bounces at mcls.org] On Behalf Of Lance Werner via Michlib-l
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2023 11:32 AM
To: michlib-l at mcls.org<mailto:michlib-l at mcls.org>
Subject: [Michlib-l] Book banning and employment contracts

!
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Please contact the IT Service Center if you are unsure.


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

Please note that this email message and any attachments may contain privileged and confidential information that is protected against use or disclosure under federal and state law. The information is intended only for the personal and confidential use of the intended recipient. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or the employee or agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this information in error and that any review, dissemination, distribution, copying or action taken in reliance on the contents of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please advise by immediate reply.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mail3.mcls.org/pipermail/michlib-l/attachments/20230306/3af3a816/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 93453 bytes
Desc: image001.png
URL: <http://mail3.mcls.org/pipermail/michlib-l/attachments/20230306/3af3a816/attachment.png>